KerbalPose

KerbalPose is a comprehensive character customization and animation framework for Kerbal Space Program. Edit bones in real-time, create custom animations, attach cosmetics, and more. Fully compatible with FreeIVA and other popular mods.

Features

• Bone Editor — Edit any bone position, rotation, and scale in real-time
• Pose Clips — Create, save, and play custom animations with keyframes
• Key Bindings — Bind bone transforms to hotkeys with smooth interpolation
• Cosmetic System — Attach custom meshes with full skeleton support
• Texture Replacement — Swap body part textures per kerbal
• Light Attachments — Attach dynamic lights to kerbals
• Hot Reload — Changes persist through quickloads (F9)

Installation

1. Download the latest release from the link below
2. Extract to your KSP GameData/ folder
3. The folder structure should be: GameData/KerbalPose/
4. Launch KSP and press Ctrl + J to open the editor

Bone Editor

The Bone Editor is the core of KerbalPose. It allows you to modify any bone in the kerbal's skeleton in real-time.

Interface

Multi-Bone Editing

Select multiple bones with Ctrl + Click to edit them simultaneously. Values are applied relatively to each bone's original transform.

Saving & Loading

• Save — Saves bone offsets to config (auto-applies on spawn)
• Reload — Discard changes and reload from file
• Presets — Save/load named presets for quick application

Pose Clips

Pose Clips let you create reusable animations by recording bone transforms over time.

Recording a Clip

1. Switch to the Pose Clips tab
2. Click New Clip and set duration
3. Position scrubber at time 0
4. Pose your kerbal in Bone Editor
5. Click Add Keyframe
6. Move scrubber forward, pose again, add keyframe
7. Repeat until animation is complete
8. Click Save Clip

Playback Controls

Clip Properties

Key Bindings

Bind bone transformations to hotkeys for interactive poses and emotes.

Creating a Binding

1. Select bone(s) in Bone Editor
2. Switch to Key Bindings tab
3. Click Add Binding
4. Press a key to assign it
5. Set mode and configure transform
6. Set interpolation (recommended)

Binding Modes

Character Customization

Cosmetics System

The Customization tab lets you attach custom meshes to kerbals.

Cosmetic Types

• Standard — Static mesh attached to a bone
• Skinned — Mesh with its own skeleton
• Armature — Uses kerbal's existing bones

Light Attachments

Attach dynamic lights to any bone:

• Point Light — Omnidirectional
• Spot Light — Directional cone
• Flicker — Animated flickering (for fire/candles)

Blender Plugin

KerbalPose includes a Blender addon for exporting meshes.

Installation

1. Download kerbalPoseBlender.zip
2. In Blender: Edit → Preferences → Add-ons
3. Click Install... and select the zip
4. Enable the addon

Export Workflow

1. Create mesh in Blender
2. Weight paint to bones (for skinned meshes)
3. Select mesh
4. Set the name
5. File → Export → KerbalPose Mesh (Multiple files will be generated for the models folder)
6. Click Export

Manifest.cfg

The manifest.cfg defines cosmetic and texture mods.

Folder Structure

GameData/KerbalPose/Cosmetics/
└── YourModName/
    ├── manifest.cfg
    ├── Models/
    │   └── your_cosmetic_exported_blender_files_go_here
    └── Textures/
        ├── texture1.png
        └── texture2.png

Cosmetic Configuration Reference

Simple Cosmetic (Single Mesh)

COSMETIC_MOD
{
    name = My Cool Hats
    author = YourName
    version = 1.0
    description = A collection of stylish hats

    COSMETIC
    {
        // Required: Unique identifier
        id = fancy_hat
        
        // Required: Display name in UI
        displayName = Fancy Hat
        
        // Required: mesh name from the models folder inside your cosmetic folder (check existing models for example)
        mesh = fancy_hat
        
        // Optional: Default attachment bone
        defaultBone = bn_upperJaw01
        
        // Optional: Shader name (default: KSP/Bumped Specular)
        shader = KSP/Bumped Specular
        
        // Optional: Base color tint (RGBA 0-1)
        color = 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0
        
        // Optional: Multiple texture options user can switch between (no extension, just name)
        TEXTURE_OPTION
        {
            name = Red
            texturePath = Textures/hat_red
            normalMapPath = Textures/hat_red_nrm
        }
        
        TEXTURE_OPTION
        {
            name = Blue
            texturePath = Textures/hat_blue
        }
    }
}

Advanced Cosmetic (Multi-Mesh)

COSMETIC_MOD
{
    name = Full Outfit Pack
    author = YourName
    version = 1.0
    description = Complete outfit with multiple parts

    COSMETIC
    {
        id = space_suit
        displayName = Space Suit
        defaultBone = bn_spine01
        

        
        // Multi-mesh cosmetic - each part with its own offset
        MESH_ENTRY
        {
            meshName = suit_body
            positionOffset = 0, 0, 0
            rotationOffset = 0, 0, 0
            scale = 1.0
            
            // Per-mesh materials
            MATERIAL
            {
                name = Main
                shader = KSP/Bumped Specular
                diffuseColor = 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0
                texturePath = Textures/suit_body
                normalMapPath = Textures/suit_body_nrm
            }
            
            MATERIAL
            {
                name = Details
                shader = KSP/Specular
                texturePath = Textures/suit_details
            }
        }
        
        MESH_ENTRY
        {
            meshName = suit_helmet
            positionOffset = 0, 0.1, 0
            rotationOffset = 0, 0, 0
            scale = 1.0
        }
        
        // Texture options apply to all meshes
        TEXTURE_OPTION
        {
            name = Standard
            texturePath = Textures/suit_white
        }
        
        TEXTURE_OPTION
        {
            name = Orange
            texturePath = Textures/suit_orange
        }
    }
}

Available COSMETIC Fields

TEXTURE_OPTION Fields

MESH_ENTRY Fields (Multi-Mesh)

Texture Mod Configuration

TEXTURE_MOD
{
    name = Alternative Faces
    author = YourName
    version = 1.0
    description = Custom face textures

    TEXTURE_SET
    {
        id = zombie_face
        displayName = Zombie Face
        
        // Diffuse textures (color/albedo)
        texHead = Textures/zombie_head
        texBody = Textures/zombie_body
        texArms = Textures/zombie_arms
        texLegs = Textures/zombie_legs
        texHelmet = Textures/zombie_helmet
        texEyes = Textures/zombie_eyes
        
        // Normal maps (bump/normal) - optional
        texHeadNormal = Textures/zombie_head_nrm
        texBodyNormal = Textures/zombie_body_nrm
        texArmsNormal = Textures/zombie_arms_nrm
        texLegsNormal = Textures/zombie_legs_nrm
        texHelmetNormal = Textures/zombie_helmet_nrm
        texEyesNormal = Textures/zombie_eyes_nrm

    }
    
    // Multiple texture sets in one mod
    TEXTURE_SET
    {
        id = robot_face
        displayName = Robot Face
        texHead = Textures/robot_head
        texBody = Textures/robot_body
        // ... etc
    }
}

TEXTURE_SET Fields

Troubleshooting