Renaming the Drawings

Although renaming your drawings is not mandatory, it can prove useful in maintaining a clear project Network structure. If you leave your drawing as is and do not rename it, your deformation subgroups will be automatically named according to the drawing numbering. However, you should consider renaming, especially if you have several drawings using the same rig within an element.

If you plan to have several drawings using the same rig within an element, for instance, drawing substitution, then it is recommended you rename these extra drawings before starting your rig, or you will find that extra unused subgroups will be created automatically.

To rename drawings to link them to the same chain:

1. In the Xsheet view, locate the column corresponding to the element which includes several drawings that will use the same chain, for example a character that has several costumes which you plan to swap by using drawing substitution. In this case, the rabbit’s feet, which will all use the same deformation curve.

 

2. In the Xsheet view, select the first drawing of the column. This is the one that will be rigged.
3. Select Drawing > Rename Drawing or press [Ctrl] + [D] (Windows/Linux) or [⌘] + [D] (Mac OS X).
4. In the Rename Drawing dialog box, type a relevant new name for the drawing and click OK to validate.

5. In the Xsheet view, select the next drawing in the column and select Rename > Rename Drawing.
6. In the Rename Drawing dialog box, type the same name that you gave the first drawing of the column, exactly as it was written and add a plus sign and any number. For example, if the first drawing is named front, the subsequent drawings will need to be named: front+1, front+2, front+3, etc.

You must strictly adhere to this rule, if you want the extra drawings to be linked to the deformation chain of the main drawing.
7. Repeat step 5 and step 6 for each subsequent drawing that needs to be linked to the same deformation chain.

Related Topics 

Creating a Full Character Turnaround Deformation Rig
Preparing the Character
Enabling the Posed Deformer Preference
Rigging the Parts
Assembling the Parts