--- title: CA Arm description: "![](https://ariserigging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/image-271.png) Creates a cartoon arm without any fingers. Features include IK/FK, ribbons, twist, soft IK, stretch, pin ctrl, etc. Guides: - **'Base'** - Position approximately on the Clavicle. - **'****Root'** - Position at the shoulder. - **'Mid'** - Position at the elbow. -…" url: "https://ariserigging.com/docs/ca-nodes/ca-arm/" updated: "2026-05-13" category: CA Nodes --- # CA Arm ![](https://ariserigging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/image-271.png) Creates a cartoon arm without any fingers. Features include IK/FK, ribbons, twist, soft IK, stretch, pin ctrl, etc. Guides: - **'Base'** - Position approximately on the Clavicle. - **'****Root'** - Position at the shoulder. - **'Mid'** - Position at the elbow. - **'Tip'** - Position at the wrist. - **'Pole Vector'** - Position where the IK pole vector ctrl will be placed. Movement is limited to the 'Root', 'Mid', and 'Tip' guides plane. ![](https://ariserigging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/image-272.png) Attributes: 1. **'Ctrls Scale'** - Scale all the node ctrls. Note that the attachments [**'Ctrls Settings'**](https://ariserigging.com/docs/attachments/ctrlssettings/) and [**'CtrlsShape'**](https://ariserigging.com/docs/attachments/ctrlsshape/) will override this. *[As of version 1.06.03]*  'Update' button to change the ctrls size without requiring a rebuild. [**[Video]**](https://youtu.be/-1fpRw6oJME?t=31)  2. **'Clean Transformations'** - If checked, the [**zeroed pose**](https://ariserigging.com/docs/elements/poses/) will be the same as the [**bind pose**](https://ariserigging.com/docs/elements/poses/); if unchecked, when zeroing the ctrls, they will align with a world axis specified in the following two attributes. **[[Video]](https://youtu.be/-1fpRw6oJME?t=61)** 3. **'World Orientation'** - The world axis the ctrls will align with when zeroed. Usually, this attribute's default value is the correct value. **[[Video]](https://youtu.be/-1fpRw6oJME?t=61)** 4. **'World Orient Twist'** - Along with 'World Orientation', defines the ctrls zeroed pose. Usually, the default value of 0 is the correct value. **[[Video]](https://youtu.be/-1fpRw6oJME?t=61)** 5. **'Expose RotateOrder'** - Exposes all the ctrls 'RotateOrder' attribute in the Channel Box. [**[Video]**](https://youtu.be/-1fpRw6oJME?t=149)  6. **'Secondary Ctrls'** - Secondary ctrls are added under some ctrls to help prevent gimbal lock. A visibility attribute is added to the parent ctrl. [**[Video]**](https://youtu.be/-1fpRw6oJME?t=157) 7. **'Ik Fk Switch'** - Select where the 'Ik Fk Switch' attribute and other shared attributes are placed: [**[Video]**](https://youtu.be/-1fpRw6oJME?t=171) - 'switch_ctrl' - Places them on a ctrl that follows the arm tip (default). - 'proxy_attrs' - places them as shared attributes (proxy attributes), on both the IK tip ctrl and the FK tip ctrl. 8. **'Switch Ctrl Offset'** - Position offset of 'switch_ctrl' from the 'tip_jnt'. 9. **'Volume'** - Adds 'Auto Volume' and 'Manual Volume' attributes. 10. **'Pin Ctrl'** - Add a 'pin_ctrl' that constrains 'mid_ctrl' when activated. To activate this ctrl use the 'Pin' attribute on 'mid_ctrl'. Use a [**'SpaceSwitch'**](https://ariserigging.com/docs/attachments/spaceswitch/) attachment on 'pin_ctrl' to properly use this feature. 11. **'Roundness'** - A cartoon feature that rounds the shape of the limb. The 'Roundness' attribute is added to the 'switch' ctrl. 12. **'Mirror Behaviour'** - Only affects mirrored nodes. - Unchecked - The IK ctrls of mirrored nodes will align with the world, meaning that both arms will move and rotate in the same direction (default for legs). - Checked - The IK ctrls of mirrored nodes will mirror orientations, meaning that both arms will reflect each other (default for arms). 13. **'IK Twist'** - The attribute 'Twist' is added to 'ik_tip_ctrl', giving you another control over the IK chain twist. 14. **'Stretch'** - The attributes 'Auto Stretch' and 'Manual Stretch' are added to 'ik_tip_ctrl' for control over the arm length. 15. **'Toggle Pole Vector'** - The attribute 'Toggle Pole Vector' is added to 'ik_tip_ctrl', which can turn off the pole vector constraint. 16. **'Soft IK'** - The attribute 'Soft Ik' is added to 'ik_tip_ctrl', which helps fix the 'pop' in the animation when the IK chain gets fully extended. 17. **'Auto Clavicle'** - (*As of version 1.05.00*) Enables automatic rotation of 'base_jnt' based on 'ik_tip_ctrl' movement. Add attributes 'Auto Base X Mult' and 'Auto Base Z Mult' to the 'ik_tip_ctrl'.Values of 0.2-0.4 are recommended for those attributes. 18. **'Ctrls Translate'** - If checked, animators will also be able to translate the FK ctrls. 19. **'Ribbon Joints'**- How many skinning joints each ribbon will have (total x2; upper ribbon and lower ribbon). [**[Video]**](https://youtu.be/-1fpRw6oJME?t=198) 20. **'Ribbon Twist'** - Allow the ribbon joints to twist. Turn this off for creatures with external skeletons, such as spiders, or for characters wearing rigid armor. 21. **'Ribbon Micro Ctrls'** - Add a ctrl for every ribbon skinning joint. [**[Video]**](https://youtu.be/-1fpRw6oJME?t=211) 22. **'Bezier Ctrls'** - Add ctrls that deform the ribbons like a Bezier curve. [**[Video]**](https://youtu.be/-1fpRw6oJME?t=222)  23. **'Bezier Ctrls Offset'** - Position offset of the Bezier ctrls from the joints chain. Connections: - **'Root Input'** - Drives the ctrls of this node except the 'ik_tip_ctrl' and the 'ik_pv_ctrl'. Usually driven by the spine node. - **'IK Tip Input'** - Drives the 'ik_tip_ctrl' and the 'ik_pv_ctrl'. Separate from 'Root Input' because we often want the IK ctrls to move with the [**'Base'**](https://ariserigging.com/docs/basic-nodes/base-node/) node. - **'Root Output'** - An output at the 'root_jnt' (shoulder). - **'Tip Output'** - An output at the 'tip_jnt' (hand). _____________________________________________ Get Arise at: [https://www.ariserigging.com](https://www.ariserigging.com/)