Here’s a simple script for a long chain of parented objects.
Create a bunch of cubes in one place, select then all in the viewport, and run this script. Marquee select them all again, and transform the objects to see the effect. This takes advantage of inherited transformation.
string $null[] = `ls -tr -sl`;
int $n = size($null);
for($i = 0; $i < $n; $i++){
if($i != $n-1){
parent $null[$i] $null[$i+1];
}
}
Here’s a tool for Maya that is similar to a multi-path constraint in Softimage. Make a new scene, create a curve, create a few objects to attach to the curve, select the objects, and run the script below.
string $selection[] = `ls -selection`;
int $size = size($selection);
//change this to your curve name
string $path = "curve1";
for($i=0; $i<$size; $i++){
float $uLinearDistribution = 1.0/$size*($i+1);
float $uRandomDistribution = rand(0,1)/$size*($i+1);
//print ($uRandomDistribution+"\n");
string $motion = `pathAnimation -f 1 -fm 1 -etu 0 -c $path $selection[$i]`;
string $source = $motion + "_uValue.output";
string $destination = $motion + ".uValue";
disconnectAttr $source $destination;
setAttr ($motion + ".uValue") $uLinearDistribution;
//setAttr ($motion + ".uValue") $uRandomDistribution;
}
There's an option for random distribution, just disable the comment. There's no error checking, so use at your own discretion/peril. Each object will have it's own MotionPath node, so check the Attribute Editor for more info.
This will come in handy when we create grapes in the Intro to 3D Modeling course.
From September 2008.
The Bouncing Ball Rig – Inspired by and specials thanks to Jason Schleifer.
These videos are from the course Art New Media 421, 3D Character Modeling and Rigging, at American River College in Sacramento, California. They are the first three weeks of rigging training. I cover the theory and discuss the setup more thoroughly in the classroom, but the following 40 minutes will get you up and running. I hope you can learn from these few videos. Please, e-mail me if you have questions or comments.
The project directory has all the files you need. Use the Project Manager to add the project to XSI. Then you’re good to go!
Updated 2:15 PM 2/16/2009, added XSI 6.0 – 6.5 compatible models.
Project Directory
Introduction, 9 MB
Importing Models, 18 MB
Hierarchy, 58 MB
Envelope and Lattice, 34 MB
Groups, 22 MB
Scripted Ops and Pose Constraint, 18 MB
Cleanup, Locks, and Key Limits, 20 MB
Neutral Pose, 9 MB
Tools, 9 MB
Final, 9 MB
167 MB, WinRAR Required
.
Note: I didn’t review these old videos, if something has significantly change in SI 2011, please let me know.
From 2008, here’s a small video series on rigging an eye lid for a realistic character.
WMV formatted. It’s a large download, 80 MB.
Eye Lid Rigging
Back in June, while helping Dave Spamer with the Tron remake, he asked for some help creating a medical animation. Now that all the secret parts have been removed from the animation, here’s the part that I worked on. My contribution was rigging and shaders for the vessel animation.
Medical Animation
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