NartForge Picker
A free animation picker for Maya. Build a picker for any rig in minutes, then animate with clean buttons, sliders and switches instead of hunting for controls in the viewport.
Latest version 1.1.0 · released 17 Oct 2026
Free to use. Maya 2020 to 2027.
Animate faster
Up to four pages at once
See up to four pages at once. Five layouts, from a single page to two pages above one wide page. Keep body, face and hands in view together, ideal on a second monitor.
Works with any rig
Build a picker for any character in minutes. One picker file drives every copy of that character in the scene.
Auto tab switching
Select a control in the viewport and its picker comes forward, already on the right page.
Switches, toggles and sliders
IK/FK, spaces, visibility and finger curls without scripts. Double-click a slider to reset it.
Build a picker in one click
Lay out buttons as the rig appears from the front, coloured by side, then mirror them to the other side.
One install for Maya 2020 to 2027
Drag one file into Maya and you’re ready. Free, with a licence key by email in about a minute.
Build your own picker
Edit Mode turns the picker into a layout tool. When it is off, buttons are locked and cannot be moved by accident.
A picker from your rig in one click
Select the controls and lay them out as they appear in the rig's front view, coloured by side, without overlapping.
Mirror and symmetrize
Build the left side, then create or update the right side to match, using your rig's own left and right naming.
Custom shapes
Draw a button around a hand, a foot or a face region on your background image.
Precise layout
Snapping, a centred grid, align and distribute, a properties bar for text, size, colours and shape, and undo for everything.
Script buttons
Python or MEL buttons that know the character's namespace, so one script works for every copy of the rig.
Your work is protected
Automatic recovery copies, backups on save, and a reminder before Maya closes with unsaved pickers.
What's new
Version 1.1.0 17 Oct 2026
Page layouts: show one, two, three or four pages of a picker at once, ideal on a second monitor. Choose from five layouts with the new icons in the header, including two pages above one wide page.
Each view has its own page list and zoom, and the picker remembers your layout.
Clearer clicks: buttons press in when clicked, and script buttons flash to confirm they ran (red if something went wrong).
Version 1.0.0 12 Oct 2026
First Release
Get started
Download
Get the zip and unzip it anywhere.
Install
Drag install_nartforge_picker.py into the Maya viewport. A shelf button is added.
Try it
Every feature works during the 14-day trial.
Get a key
Request your free licence key. It arrives by email in about a minute.
Activate
In the picker, choose Help, then Enter Licence Key, and paste it.
Like the picker?
It is free to use. If it saves you time, you can support its development with a donation of any amount.