Week 3 - Creating Controls

This week:

A point constraint attaches the position of an object to that of another.
To add a constraint, select the target object first, then the object you want to constrain
adding two targets will create a constraint halfway inbetween the two
constraints appear in the outliner underneath the constrained object.
remove constraints by deleting in the outliner.
Check options in the settings - use maintain offset accordingly.

Aim constraint makes the constrained object point at the target.
this is useful for eyes, cameras, lights
change the axis you want to point at the object in the menu options or afterwards in the attribute editor.

Makes a direct connection between one channel/value and another
Open via Windows > General Editors > Connection Editor, or by hitting Edit > Connection Editor in the channel box
Outputs (Left hand column) are what drives the connection
Inputs (Right hand column) recieves the connection
Connect individual channels or connect all translate/rotate etc
Connected channels change colour in the channel box
To remove a connection, deselect the Input in the connection editor or right click on the channel in the channel box and hit break connection.

Make a connection between one channel and others with mathematical functions.
Open via Windows > Animation Editors > Expression Editor, or by selecting a channel in the channel box and going Edit > Expressions in the channel box.
By selecting an object in the scene and one of its attributes you reveal the specific code to that attribute in the "Selected Object and Attribute" field.
Copy these and create an expression in the box below.
Example: locator1.translateX=joint1.translateX
Edit the expression. Add maths functions to alter the behaviour: locator1.translateX=(joint1.translateX)*3
Channels with expressions change colour in the channel box.
Find the expression again by selecting the channel in the channel box and going Edit > Expressions in the channel box.
To remove an expression, delete it in the expression editor or right click on the channel in the channel box and hit break connection.

makes a connection between one value and another, which is determined by defined key frames
Open by selecting a channel and going Edit > Set Driven Key in the channel box or with the Animate Menus visable by going Key > Set Driven Key > Set
Load the driver and Driven and select the values you want to connect.
Hit Key to set the default/resting key
Change the value of the driver, then change the value of the driven to the desired amount, and hit Key again.
Repeat for as many as needed.
Edit the keys by going Key > Go to Previous etc, changing the values and hitting Set
View the relationship in the graph editor. Try changing the curve to see the effect.

Add attributes to create extra channels on your control objects by going Modify > Add Attributes
Fill out the fields and create
Then connect the new attribute to animate the desired channels with the appropriate connection above

We will now use these methods to add some controls to our rig. This version of the character model has the bones completed if you need it.

Add a IK Handle (Rotate Plain Solver) from the hip to the ankle
Create IK Handles (Single Chain Solver) form the ankle to the ball of the foot and the ball to the toe
Create a foot plate
Parent the IK Handles to the foot plate
Group the IK Handles to create a nodes in between the IK Handles and the footplate for additional pivot points
Move each pivot to the desired location by hitting insert and moving it
Create a pivot for the ball of the foot, the toe and back of the heel
Add attributes to the foot plate to control each of these pivots
Connect the rotations to the attributes using set driven key.

Create a master control to add a parent for all the separate controls.
lock and hide channels that you don't want the animator to animate. Highlight the channel, right click for options in the channel box. Modify these with Windows > General Editors > Channel Control. Or in the channel box Edit > Channel Control
colour parts of your rig controls with drawing override in the attribute editor
Add controls to separate layer
Add a prefix or rename controls and joints using Modify > Search and replace names or Modify >
Create selection set for your controls

Next week we will look at using Rapid Rig to Automate the rigging process.

We will also look at skinning/binding our character to our rig.

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