---
title: CA Quadruped Front Leg
description: "![](https://ariserigging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/image-291.png) Creates the front leg of a 4-legged animal (quadruped). Features include IK/FK, ribbon, twist, soft IK, stretch, pin ctrl, master ctrletc.  Guides: ![](https://ariserigging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/image-292.png) ![](https://ariserigging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/image-293-401x1024.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…"
url: "https://ariserigging.com/docs/ca-nodes/ca-quadruped-front-leg/"
updated: "2026-05-13"
category: CA Nodes
---

# CA Quadruped Front Leg

![](https://ariserigging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/image-291.png)

Creates the front leg of a 4-legged animal (quadruped). Features include IK/FK, ribbon, twist, soft IK, stretch, pin ctrl, master ctrletc. 

Guides:

![](https://ariserigging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/image-292.png)

![](https://ariserigging.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/image-293-401x1024.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 leg 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 for 'pin_ctrl' to properly use this feature.
11. **'Mirror Behaviour'** - Only affects mirrored nodes.
    - Unchecked - The IK ctrls of mirrored nodes will align with the world, meaning that both legs will move and rotate in the same direction (default for legs).
    - Checked - The IK ctrls of mirrored nodes will mirror orientations, meaning that both legs will reflect each other (default for arms).
12. **'IK Twist'** - The attribute 'Twist' is added to 'ik_tip_ctrl', giving you another control over the IK chain twist. 
13. **'Stretch'** - The attributes 'Auto Stretch' and 'Manual Stretch' are added to 'ik_tip_ctrl' for control over the leg length.
14. **'Toggle Pole Vector'** - The attribute 'Toggle Pole Vector' is added to 'ik_tip_ctrl', which can turn off the pole vector constraint.
15. **'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.
16. **'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.**
17. **'Ctrls Translate'** - If checked, animators will also be able to translate the FK ctrls.
18. **'Ribbon Joints'** - How many skinning joints each ribbon will have (total x2; upper ribbon and lower ribbon). [**[Video]**](https://youtu.be/-1fpRw6oJME?t=198)
19. **'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.
20. **'Ribbon Micro Ctrls'** - Add a ctrl for every ribbon skinning joint. [**[Video]**](https://youtu.be/-1fpRw6oJME?t=211)
21. **'Bezier Ctrls'** - Adds ctrls that deform the ribbon like a Bezier curve. [**[Video]**](https://youtu.be/-1fpRw6oJME?t=222)
22. **'Bezier Ctrls Offset'** - Position offset of the Bezier ctrls from the joint 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 **[https://newaccount1619350932681.freshdesk.com/a/solutions/articles/69000436626](https://newaccount1619350932681.freshdesk.com/a/solutions/articles/69000436626)**[https://newaccount1619350932681.freshdesk.com/a/solutions/articles/69000436626](https://newaccount1619350932681.freshdesk.com/a/solutions/articles/69000436626)[**'Base'**](https://ariserigging.com/docs/basic-nodes/base-node/)[https://newaccount1619350932681.freshdesk.com/a/solutions/articles/69000436626](https://newaccount1619350932681.freshdesk.com/a/solutions/articles/69000436626)**[https://newaccount1619350932681.freshdesk.com/a/solutions/articles/69000436626](https://newaccount1619350932681.freshdesk.com/a/solutions/articles/69000436626)** node.
- **'Root Output'** - An output at the 'root_jnt' (pelvis).
- **'Ankle Output'** - An output at the 'tip_jnt'.
- **'Toes Tip Output'** - An output at the 'toes_tip_root_jnt'.

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