The Comprehensive Guide to Rigging Tools
sriesch
Posts: 4,243
in The Commons
I noticed this product in the store: The Comprehensive Guide to Rigging Tools ( http://www.daz3d.com/the-comprehensive-guide-to-rigging-tools-in-daz-studio ).
Does anybody know how much of it might will apply to version 4.8 (since it is intended for 4.9)? I'm not sure how extensively the covered items might have changed between the two versions.
For anybody who has purchased it, general thoughts/reviews?
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I bought it in hopes that the info would give me a bit more knowledge. I have learned a few things but still making my way down the pages and pages of info. It's quite comprehensive so far, 140 something pages total. I'm so hoping that there is info on how to take a rig and set it up differently. I'm working on some digitigrade legs and used Dusk's rig as my donor. I've resized all the bones, gotten a start on the weight mapping but I'm still getting weird things like what used to be the Toes bone (now the Hoof) is still showing a bounding box relative to the toe bone and not encompasing the full hoof. Very odd. Even learned a bit more about the Geometry Editor and made sure the hoofs were set up and selectable fully but the bone still shows that much smaller bounding box when the Hoof bone is selected.
I think he mentions in the PDF that it was written for 4.9 and above so you may not have some of the newer tools that were updated in 4.9.
If you are using 4.8 it means you will not have a few features, but most of the guide should apply.
If I recall, 4.8 does not have the "Morph Editing" available in the Geometry Editor tool.
Most of the time however your experience should be fine. If you cannot find an option written in the guide, it just means 4.8 might not have it, but the versions are very similar. The tools and options are called the same.
The bounding box is based of the Face Group attached to the bone if I remember correctly.
You have to use the Geometry Editor to make a Face Group of the correct Polygons and then apply it as a Selection group to the bone via the Joint Editor.
Thanks. I ended up re rigging the whole thing and went with the General weight mapping rather than the TriAx..... TriAx is just too complicated with all the XYZ and bulge maps. So far the General weight mapping is working very well for what I'm making.... Plus I think Poser supports General wm'ing so might be able to make some additional sales to the Poser users when I get all this done.
Well, technically TriAx grants more control over certain aspects of the figure.
But personally I also use General Weights. Unless I needed Bulge Maps - General weights are just faster to use and the result is good most of the time.
Unfortunately I cannot offer any help with Poser. But I assume General Linear maps would work.
Not sure about Dual Quaternions though.
Hi, just a short question or two. Does this guide explains, how to rig a custom character from the scratch?
And what about animals rig? Are they covered, too?
The guide's main purpose is to explain every single rigging tool option as well as how to use it, if it's not as simple as "click and it happens".
The rigging process is described more as a general approach to it. For example:
Of course, its followed with some additional information like:
Upon loading, the clothing mesh should be sitting on top of the Source Figure as if the character is already wearing the item as it should. If the position of the mesh is incorrect, correct it in your modeling app and re-import the figure.
The guide focuses on the general process of:
But it's not in-depth when it comes to specific examples. So there is no "to rig a cat, you do X then Y then Z."
The assumption is that the "new figure" can be anything, but the guide tries to explain the logic of how to rig things in general.
Thanks for the explanation, Thomas. Since I have never rigged anything before myself, I wonder, if your guide will help me with the beginners stuff, I need to learn.
Will see, if I get enough funds, to buy the guide.
I hate rigging; hated it in blender (still do) and avoid as much as possible.
Haven't really enjoyed the experience in Daz either, but thinking this would be useful; problem atm, is time - I haven't got enough.
I actually don't mind rigging so much. It's the weight mapping. I really want a comprehensive guide to that with a full on approach to doing a human figure esp in areas like thighs and shoulders were there seems to be allot of issues getting things working just right. Side-Side bends are the worst for allot of us!
Take a good look in a mirror...after a shower....yeah, that's pretty accurate for real life, too.
HAHAHAHA... Funny!
I am afraid my Guide will not explain how to fully rig a human figure from start to finish.
It's purpose was to explain the tools, concepts and the general process. I don't go into detail in how to rig things from start to finish. The described rigging process is just a general guideline.
Same goes for the Geograft process in the guide. I explain the logic behind its functionality - not how to make horns, tails, etc.
On the other side - I'd rather not give a "this is how you rig a human" tutorial, mainly because it is absurd how much a rig can differ between human characters.
Just look at the rigs in Genesis, Genesis 2 and Genesis 3. All three are human figures, each with a different rig.
Most of the time a rig is supposed to give you the functionality you desire from the figure. If you need more parts of the figure to move, you will add more bones.
Although this makes me wonder if making another guide with Videos showcasing a rigging process from start to finish would be a good idea in this case?
Focusing on rigging specific figures, what to look for, what to consider when rigging, etc. Not really describing the tool functions (cause now there is a guide for it), but more the process and decision making when rigging.
Is that something people would be nterested in?
Yep. :-)
Well, let's make a test.
I'll record a video showcasing a possible tutorial on rigging specific figures as a sample.
If my voice will not be too irritating - I'll record a full process start-to-finish for rigging specific characters.
Nice. I'm looking forward to it!
Hi, I have bought your guide, so I am also looking forward to your video tutorial, as well.
Working on it at the moment. I cannot promise how long this will take though.
I guess the test will be on rigging High Heels - since I see a lot of people struggling with it. I'll take high heels for Genesis and show how to rig them up for use with Genesis 3 Female.
The process should work for pretty much any kind of High Heels.
I'll upload the video to YouTube once its done. If my voice will be understandable - I'll make a whole series of videos for rigging items.
Great thread. This sounds like exactly the sort of specialized manuals that Daz3d needs. Now on my list of purchases for next payday to show my support for such endeavors and to "get my learn on".
Thanks for working on the video tutorial, Thomas, and take your time on it.
I still need to go through all the 140 pages, you have written so far, and this will take me a while to do so.
Looking forward to the sample vid. I doubt your voice will be annoying unless you sound like Minny Mouse on speed! lmao
I get a 404 error when I try to go to the linked page. I already own this guide, but is it no longer available?
http://www.daz3d.com/the-comprehensive-guide-to-rigging-tools-in-daz-studio
Yeah, I noticed it was missing about a year ago (give or take). It was just after a culling of PAs with low back catalogues and no new products but that may be unrelated.