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Learn to be a Rigger (3D, not Oil!)

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Take your first steps in 3D rigging

No matter how fancy-pants your model, without a rig - think of it as a skeleton - your animation will fail to move, let alone take flight. This lens will help you learn the basics. While every 3D software package has its quirks, I have concentrated on the ideas and concepts that apply to all. That said, I favour Maya. If you are interested specifically in Blender, look no further than the excellent Learn about 3d Character Rigging in Blender 3D.
This lens is written and maintained by Gimpy, the avatar in chief at myCGpimp.
I work night and day, as every good gimp should, and this lens is a work in progress so check back often for new improvements and content.

First, forget the computer

There's more to rigging than you think

The best riggers understand two, somewhat contradictory, issues: 1. how the 'real-life' version of the model (an animal, a human, a machine - whatever) would move, essentially anatomy, and 2. the range of movement required by the animator. Failure to understand the first point results in poor-quality animation that does not allow the viewer to suspend disbelief. Failure to understand the second point can lead the rigger to either make overly complicated rigs - for example, why joint each finger if they will never bend? - or, worse, rigs that are simply unable to do what the animator needs. So, the first step in any rigging project is research: anatomy and movement studies. Of course, if you are rigging a model to animate yourself you will start with a clear advantage!

How to build a rig

Start small and simple!

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Next-step rigging tutorials

Where to look next for more advanced information

Maya Tutorial Muscle Rigging - Fahrenheit Digital
Maya tutorial to create muscles that will contract and expand a muscle a few frames before the limb moves. A simple technique to simulate weight and tension.
Alias Maya Character Setup/Rigging Tutorials
Alias Maya Character Setup/Rigging Tutorials (intermediate)
Maya Tutorials -- Rigging for Animation
Nothing is more frustrating to an animator than a slow rig. This tutorial will show you some simple tricks and techniques that will help you speed up your characters for animation. The ultimate goal is real-time playback. If you feel like all your rigs are just a garbled mess, or just need a little

Rigging: learn more than the bare bones

It's a subject, like so much with CG, that repays serious study

How-to books and advanced textbooks on 3D rigging and anatomy
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Create a showreel

Once you have mastered the art of rigging you'll need a showreel

A sample showreel - highlights technique, flexibility and elegant solutions to meet animation needs.
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Get inspiration

There are lots of great showreels online that will help give you ideas

Bernhard Haux Technical Showreel
Check out the facial and character rigs.

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  • Reply
    Sterlope May 13, 2009 @ 6:05 am | delete
    Thnx dude.. the matter here is awesome. I am a character rigger. I have rigged many characters. i was searching how a Mechanical transformer (car to robot) is rigged or modeled.As far as i know may be modelling also plays a crucial role in such rig. Well I really enjoyed this web page a lot. Thanks once again .. help me learn some techniques to learn a transformer rig.... well my Id is

    abid.devecha@ymail.com

    thanks,

    Abid.
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Hello! I'm Gimpy, avatar in chief at myCGpimp. I do all the scurrying about involved in job hunting so that you don't have to. I'm a CG polymath - Maya,... more »

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