# Biomechanical visualization Mocap Studio includes built-in tools for visualizing joint angles and other biomechanical measurements directly inside the viewport. You can also export these biomechanical values into **CSV files**, one file per character recorded, for use in analysis, research, and external workflows. This page explains how to export biomechanical data and provides a complete reference for all biomechanical visualization settings available in Mocap Studio. --- ## 1. Recording and exporting biomechanical data ## 1.1 Recording Panel Overview All recorded sessions appear in the **Recordings** panel. Each recording can be played, renamed, deleted and exported. Below is the location of the **Export** button: ![Recording Panel – Export Button](./img/mocap_studio_bio/recording_panel_export_button.png) --- ## 1.2 Exporting to CSV Click the **Export** button on any recorded session. This opens the Export dialog, where you select the desired file format: ![Export Dialog – CSV Format](./img/mocap_studio_bio/export_dialog_csv.png) ### Export Behavior - Mocap Studio exports **one CSV file per character** included in the recording. - Each CSV contains **all biomechanical values shown in the Biomech Visualization panel**, sampled on every frame. - Files are named based on the recording name, plus timestamp information. CSV files can be used in: - Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers - Python / Pandas workflows - MATLAB - Data science and research pipelines - Training machine learning models - Motion analysis tools --- ## 2. Biomechanics Visualization Panel (Overview) The Biomechanics panel appears in the **Properties** section of Mocap Studio. It lets you control how joint biomechanics are displayed in the viewport, including arc visibility, colors, radius scaling, and per-joint toggles. ![Biomech Panel – Colors and Flags](./img/mocap_studio_bio/biomech_panel_colors_flags.png) These visualization tools help you inspect angles and ranges of motion in real time. --- ## 3. Visualization Settings ## 3.1 Color Controls These colors define the arcs drawn in the viewport. Each represents a joint motion direction: | Setting | Meaning | |--------|---------| | **Abduction Color** | Arm or leg moving away from the body midline. | | **Adduction Color** | Arm or leg moving toward the body midline. | | **Flexion Color** | Bending motion (e.g., lifting arm forward or bending the knee). | | **Extension Color** | Straightening motion or backward motion. | | **Internal Rotation Color** | Limb rotating toward the midline. | | **External Rotation Color** | Limb rotating away from the midline. | | **Label Color** | Color of numerical labels and text drawn near joints. | These colors are also used in the CSV for column grouping and interpretation. --- ## 3.2 Global Display Options | Setting | Description | |---------|-------------| | **Global Arc Radius Scale** | Scales the size of all biomechanical arcs in the viewport. | | **Show Labels** | Toggles on/off numerical joint labels showing angle values. | --- ## 3.3 Joint Radius Controls Adjusts the size of arcs for each joint region: | Joint | Control | |-------|---------| | Shoulders | **Shoulder Radius** | | Elbows | **Elbow Radius** | | Hips | **Hip Radius** | | Knees | **Knee Radius** | Increasing radius helps separate arcs visually when multiple joints are active. --- ## 4. Joint-Specific Visualization Flags These flags allow you to choose which biomechanical measurements are shown per joint. The screenshot below shows the full list of available toggles: ![Biomech Panel – Extended Joint Flags](./img/mocap_studio_bio/biomech_panel_extended_flags.png) Each group has left/right side controls. --- ## 4.1 Shoulders ### Left and Right Shoulder Flags: - **Show Abduction** - **Show Adduction** - **Show Flexion** - **Show Extension** - **Show Abduction360** **Abduction360** Displays a full circular abduction range representation — useful for overhead and complex shoulder motion capture. --- ## 4.2 Elbows ### Left and Right Elbow Flags: - **Show Flexion** - **Show Extension** Elbow measurements typically represent hinge motion. --- ## 4.3 Hips ### Left and Right Hip Flags: - **Show Abduction** - **Show Adduction** - **Show Flexion** - **Show Extension** These appear around the pelvis and upper leg region. --- ## 4.4 Knees ### Left and Right Knee Flags: - **Show Flexion** (Extension is implicitly visualized in opposite direction of flexion.) --- ## 5. CSV Export Structure (Technical Reference) A CSV file is created **per character** and contains the following: ### 5.1 Rows Each row represents **one frame** of captured motion. ### 5.2 Columns Columns correspond to each enabled biomechanical measurement: Example column names: ```text LeftShoulder_Abduction LeftShoulder_Flexion RightElbow_Flexion RightHip_Adduction LeftKnee_Flexion ... ``` ### 5.3 Interpreting Values - Values are expressed in **degrees**. - Sign conventions match the arc directions in the viewport. - If a visualization flag is disabled, the value may still appear in CSV (depending on feature set). --- ## 6. Tips & Best Practices (Technical) - Use **larger radius scales** when arcs overlap visually between joints. - When validating motion data, cross-check viewport values with CSV frames. - Import CSV into Python with `pandas.read_csv()` for advanced analysis. - In biomechanical research, combine CSV data with motion trajectories for joint torque estimation. --- ## 7. File Locations & Naming - CSV files export to the folder you select in the Export dialog. - Filenames follow: **`RecordingName_CharacterName_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv`** - When exporting a session with multiple performers, expect multiple CSV files. --- ## 8. Summary Mocap Studio's biomechanical tools let you: - Visualize joint angles in real time - Export per-character CSV files for analysis - Control exactly which angles and motions appear in the viewport These tools support animation workflows, QA pipelines, and scientific analysis, making Mocap Studio a powerful solution for biomechanical capture. ## Related pages - [Exporting data](/docs/mocap-studio/exporting-data) - [Recording an FBX](/docs/mocap-studio/recording-fbx) - [Mocap Studio overview](/docs/mocap-studio/overview)