Learn about 3d Character Rigging in Blender 3D

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So Just What is Character Rigging?

Rigging, is a process used in computer animation, particularly in the animation of characters, to efficiently mimic real world skeletal systems for animation purposes. This technique is used by creating or using a series of "bones" to form skeletons. Each bone in the skeleton is responsible for deforming and animating a part of the character. Many 3d programs offer some form of skeletal rigging feature.

This lens will be an introduction to general rigging theories as implemented by the rigging tools and features of Blender 3D to create successful characters for animation.

Blender Rigging Features/Tools:
> Fast skeleton creation mode
> Interactive 3D paint for vertex weighting
> Fast envelope based skinning
> Automatic Skinning that really works (heat equilibrium based)
> Mirror editing (bone creation and weight painting)
> Double Quaternions reduce shrinking and other bone deformation errors
> Volume deformer uses a mesh cage to deform complex meshes with great results
> Bone layers and colored groups for better rig organization
> B-spline interpolated bones; forget about elbow twists
> Constraint stack for IK solver setup and other constraints
> PyConstraints; if you need something not yet implemented, code it in python with real time feed back, no compiling needed

... and remember, one of the best features is that Blender 3D is a free open source 3D content creation suite.

So How Does Rigging Work in Blender? 

In Blender, rigging is created/done with Armatures. An Armature is made up of individual bones that are parented together to create a skeleton. The character mesh is then parented to the Armature to properly deform the character when animating.

You can manually pose your armature for each frame, or you can create poses and use Blender's action system to speed up your work flow.

A More In Depth Look at Armatures 

The Armature Object
Armatures are like articulated skeletons, that allow you to pose and deform the geometry that surrounds it. An armature is made of a series of bones connected to each other via parenting or constraints. Armatures are most often used in character animation, as a manipulatable skeleton to pose a character, but they can also be useful in other situations too.
Editing Armatures
Armatures are comprised of Bones. Editing an Armature in Edit Mode allows you to manipulate the bones in their default rest position.
Posing Armatures
Contrary to EditMode, Pose mode isn't a obligatory mode where you can't do anything else. You can be in posemode and still select another object. When you are done building your armature, you can go into PoseMode to add constraints and start creating actions.
Etch-a-ton
Etch-a-ton is a development branch for sketching techniques applied to rigging.

It can be used both for creating chains of deformation bones through various subdivision techniques (most based on skeletor) or through retargetting templates (also based on previous non-published work).

Hey My Bones Have a Mind of their Own! 

Using Constraints to Control How Armature Bones Behave

Once you have your basic rig, and start trying to animate it, you will discover that some of the bones seem to have a mind of their own. This is a common problem with creating rigs.

Blender, (like most animation software packages) uses Constraints to fix these errant bones and make them behave in a more realistic manner.

Introduction to Constraints 

Constraints are object features that define spacial relationships between objects, and are the standard method for controlling characters among all 3D animation packages that still implement a more traditional approach to digital character animation. In Blender, constraints can be associated to any type of object or bone object, but not all constraints work with bone objects, and not all constraints work with normal world objects.
Available Blender Constraints
A list of available constraints and how to use them
Guided tour of Blender Constraints
There are no strict rules to follow for when to use constraints. As long as they save you time and make everything work by itself. A constraint should never be "time-consuming" or difficult to use. Think about the animator who is going to work with this rig (it could be you!). So, do everything in a smart way.

Time to Get Our Feet Wet, So to Speak! 

Now that we know a little bit more about the tools required for creating a rig (Armature), it is time for us to actually build one. Or may be several. Practice makes perfect and not all rigs work for all situations.

How to Set Up a Working Armature 

BSod: Introduction to Rigging
Rob's Introduction to Rigging will provide readers with an incredible reference resource. This project will cover the basics of rigging before leading into the complex rigging of legs/feet and spines, explaining both the theory and implementation of these tricky areas. Furthermore, the coverage of envelopes and weight painting will complete the picture, leaving the user with a series of complete, animatable rigs for different uses.
Introduction to Character Animation
Introducing the topic with a basic overview of modeling, and texturing a character, Ryan will lead onto the more advanced topics of rigging and character animation, including detailed overviews of posing, actions and the NLA.
BlanderMan Rigging Tutorial (videos)
Part 1; sections 1 & 2
Topics covered: Bone creation, splitting and re-parenting. Weighting with bone heat, mirrored weight painting and posed weight painting. IK setup, bone roll, and pole targets. Advanced foot rig with control to pivot off of the heel, toe, ankle or ball and control to lift the toes.

Part 2
Topics covered: Intermediate constraint setup, CSpace and custom bone objects.

Take a Look at How it is Done! 

Sometimes the best way to see how something works, is to have a working example that you can poke and prod. Or as is often the case, rip apart to see how it originally went together.

Training DVDs for Rigging 

The ManCandy FAQs
The ManCandy FAQ is a collection of animations and video tutorials for rigging and animating with ManCandy. The animations are in question and answer format (hence the title) and are intended to be a fun way of documenting the rig.

The ManCandy videos are also available on blip.tv
ManCandy Videos
Learn Character Animation with Blender
Created by William Reynish, character animator Big Buck Bunny

This DVD covers all aspects of computer-based character animation including workflow, acting, posing, keyframes, weight, walks & runs and overlapping action, through a series of video tutorials that are easy to follow and allow you to stop and start playback whenever you want.

The Learn Character Animation with Blender videos are also available on blip.tv
Learn Character Animation with Blender Videos

Oh My! It all looks so complicated! 

I know that rigging and animation in general can look overly complicated and even down right scary. But I assure you that it really isn't.

There are a wealth of resources available to help get you started in addition to well established communities where you can find help if you run into problems.

All else fails, you can contact me.

I would be happy to answer any questions and mentor you in your beginning steps into the world of Blender.

Must Have Blender Book for Animation and Rigging 

Introducing Character Animation with Blender

Introducing Character Animation with Blender

by: Tony Mullen

Character rigging and animation can be a very frustrating and confusing process. Not to mention rather time consuming. (Which is one reason why I have avoided learning it for so long).

But with Tony's book, I have been able to see how all the steps fit together to create the illusion of movement. He takes you through the process step by step, explaining how it all works together. At the end you end up with a fully rigged character that you get to use for further studies and practice.

An amazing look into setting up your own animation project 

"Animating with Blender: How to Create Short Animations from Start to Finish"

Animating with Blender: How to Create Short Animations from Start to Finish

Animating with Blender: How to Create Short Animations from Start to Finish

by: Roland Hess

Roland shows you how to get started and avoid the common first time mistakes in an easy to understand humorous manner that makes reading his book not only informative but highly entertaining as well. ( I actually giggled throughout most of the book)

Not only does he show you how to actually create and better yet actually finish your first animation, he covers how to deal with the complex and frustrating task of rigging and animating your characters.

While definitely not a book for complete beginners, it is definitely a book that belongs on every eager to be animator's bookshelf.

Start Your Own Library of Great Rigging/Animation Titles 

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Introducing Character Animation with Blender by Tony Mullen

Introducing Character Animation with Blender by Tony Mullen

Let this in-depth professional book be your guide more...1 point

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Animating with Blender: How to Create Short Animations from Start to Finish by Roland Hess

Animating with Blender: How to Create Short Animations from Start to Finish by Roland Hess

Blender has become one of the most popular 3D and more...1 point

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The Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams

The Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams

The definitive book on animation, from the Academy more...0 points

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Bounce, Tumble, and Splash!: Simulating the Physical World with Blender 3D by Tony Mullen

Bounce, Tumble, and Splash!: Simulating the Physical World with Blender 3D by Tony Mullen

With more than 2 million downloads in a year, Ble more...0 points

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The Essential Blender: Guide to 3D Creation with the Open Source Suite Blender by Roland Hess

The Essential Blender: Guide to 3D Creation with the Open Source Suite Blender by Roland Hess

Blender is a free and open source 3D creation suit more...0 points

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by dreamsgate

I am the Managing Editor of Blenderart Magazine and a long time user of Blender. all about me (more)

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