Creating a Basic Deformation Rig
Using the Rigging tool, you can quickly create a basic Bone and Articulation or Curve rig. Before you can create a Basic Deformation rig, you must set up the performance preferences which are necessary to allow the system to process the deformation effect efficiently—seeSetting the Performance Preferences. Refer to the Creating a Full Character Turnaround Deformation Rig to learn how to rig a complete character.
How to create a basic deformation rig
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In the Preferences dialog box, under the Deformation tab, deselect the Automatically Create New Deformer Structure for each Pose/Drawing option—see Setting the Performance Preferences. This will result in a simpler Network rigging structure. But remember that this option must be re-enabled before rigging a multipose (front, quarter, side and back) character. |
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From the Deformation toolbar, select the Rigging tool. |
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In the Rigging Tool Properties, enable the Automatic Mode. |
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In the Network, Camera or Timeline view, select the element on which you want to add a deformation. |
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In the Camera view, create a Bone or Curve rig. |
How to create a Bone rig
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Place the cursor at the far end of your element, click once and release. For example, on the shoulder. |
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Click again at the location where you want your first bone to finish and your second bone to start. An articulation will automatically be inserted between each bone you create. |
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Repeat this until you are finished creating the Bone chain. |
How to create a Curve rig
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Click at the far end of your element, for example, the shoulder and drag the cursor to extend the control handle and release just as you would do when using the Polyline tool—see Drawing with the Polyline Tool. |
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Click again at the location where you want the curve to end and drag the cursor to extend the second control handle. |
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Repeat this process until you have finished building the Curve chain. |
This will automatically create a Deformation group connected to the top node of the selected element. This group includes all the necessary deformation modules as well as the Bones, Curves and Articulations you created. Note that this Network structure is the result of a simple rigging which was created without the Automatically Create New Deformer Structure for each Pose/Drawing preference.
If you have just created the bone rig, the controls will still be showing. However, whenever you close your project the deformers are turned off, so when you reopen the project you can show the ones you need while you're animating.
Modifying a Deform Rig
How to set up a bone and articulation deformation chain
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In the Network view, select the Deformation group you want to set up. |
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In the Deformation toolbar, click the Show Selected Deformers and Hide All Others button to display the deformer controls in the Camera view. This also hides all the deformer controls that were displayed. |
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In the Deformation toolbar, click the Setup Modebutton. |
The chain turns from green to red. A green chain indicates the Setup mode is disabled. If so, click the button again to enable it.
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In the Tools toolbar, select the Transform tool. |
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In the Camera view, set up the deformation chain. |
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Use the Pivot rotation handle to change the angle of the chain. |
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Use the Pivot centre control point to reposition the entire chain. |
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Use the Articulation control point, the square at the bottom, to reposition the articulation. This will elongate, shorten or change the direction of the first bone. |
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Use the Articulation, top diamond-shaped, control point to change the size of the articulation. For quality purposes, it is recommended to have an articulation which fits the diameter of the part it controls. |
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(Optional) In the Deformation toolbar, deselect the Show Simplified Manipulators button to display all the manipulators. You can choose to work with the simplified deformers, but if you need more control, you can also access the full deformers. You will notice two extra square control points appearing in the middle of the articulation circle. Drag these up and down to modify the steepness (bias) of the articulation. |
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Repeat until all the articulations and bones of the chain are correctly aligned to the element it is linked to. |
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With the Deformation group still selected, click the Copy Resting Position to Current button. This will make sure to set the current resting position as the current frame one. |
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In the Deformation toolbar, click the Setup Mode button to turn off the mode. Then test your modifications using the Transform tool. For optimal results, make sure the size of the articulation is about the same size as the drawing. |