3D Character Rigging
Transform static models into animatable puppets with our intensive 3D rigging course. Master skeletal structures, skinning, and control rigs to create functional, intuitive systems for games and film.
Rig a 3D Character’s body and face in 2 Weeks!
Ever marvelled at the incredibly lifelike characters in animated films or the intricate designs in your favourite video games? The magic behind these creations results from 3D character rigging, a key component in digital animation. Orange VFX is excited to introduce our foundation course on 3D Character Rigging using Advanced Skeleton. Whether you’re a budding animator, a passionate gamer, or an innovative creator eager to delve into the dynamic realm of 3D character animation, this course is crafted for you.
Our course goes beyond simply teaching the technicalities of 3D character rigging. It immerses you in the art of animating, helping you understand the subtleties of character movement and giving you the skills to create compelling, expressive 3D characters. Leveraging Advanced Skeleton, an industry-leading tool, our experienced instructors will guide you through infusing realism and emotion into your digital creations in Maya.
Joining the Orange VFX family means more than just learning a new skill. It means becoming part of a vibrant, creative community pushing the boundaries of animation. The world of digital animation is waiting for your unique vision. So why wait? Breathe life into your imagination with our 3D Character Rigging course. Your journey into the captivating world of animation starts here!
Course Outline
Week 1: Fundamentals & The ``Under the Hood`` Mechanics
Topic A: The Logic of Rigging (Hierarchies)
- Core Concept: Parent/Child Relationships (The “Chain of Command”).
- The Outliner: Grouping (Ctrl+G) vs. Parenting (P). Why a clean Outliner = a stable rig.
- Critical Rule: “Freeze Transformations” and “Delete History” before placing a single joint.
- Topic B: The Skeleton (Manual Joint Placement)
- Anatomy for Riggers: Placing pivot points correctly (e.g., The Elbow pivot is not in the middle of the arm, but at the bone connection).
- Joint Orientation: Understanding Local Rotation Axes (LRA). Why does my arm twist weirdly? Because the LRA is wrong.
- Topic C: Constraints (The Glue)
- Parenting vs. Constraints: When to use which?
- Parenting = Permanent structure.
- Constraints = Flexible relationships (e.g., A hand holding a sword).
- Types: Parent, Point, Orient, and Scale constraints.
- Activity: Rigging a mechanical Piston using Aim and Point constraints.
Topic D: Skinning Basics
- Binding: Smooth Bind vs. Rigid Bind.
- Weight Painting: Using the Paint Skin Weights Tool (Add, Replace, Smooth operations) to fix deformation.
Topic E: Introduction to Auto-Rigging (Mixamo vs. Adv. Skeleton)
- Workflow 1 (Quick): Uploading a mesh to Mixamo for instant auto-rigging.
- Analysis: Inspecting the Mixamo skeleton in Maya to see how it differs from a manual rig.
- Workflow 2 (Pro): Using Advanced Skeleton within Maya. The “Fit Skeleton” process for custom control.
Week 2: Advanced Techniques & Production Pipeline
Topic A: Refined Skinning & AI Tools
- Techniques: Mirroring skin weights (Left to Right) and Pruning Small Weights (Optimisation).
- AI Integration: Using AI auto-skinning tools (like AccuRig or NG_SkinTools basics) and learning how to manually clean up their output.
Topic B: Face Rigging Fundamentals
- Theory: Bones vs. Blendshapes.
- Bones = Jaw, Neck, Eyelids.
- Blendshapes = Smile, Blink, Brow Raise.
- Technique: Setting up a “Jaw” bone with proper pivot points.
- Practice: Creating a simple “Blink” blendshape and connecting it to a controller.
Topic C: Controls, UI, & Polish
- Controls: Creating custom NURBS curves (Circles, Squares) that are easy for animators to select.
- “Animator-Proofing”: Locking and hiding unnecessary attributes (Scale/Visibility) so animators don’t accidentally break the rig.
Practical Application and Project Work
- Applying learned skills to rig a character from scratch
- Rigging characters for specific animation scenarios
- Final project assessment and feedback
