Rigging a Character in 3ds Max - Part 1 - Foot Helpers and IK Chains
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In this tutorial, you learn the basic workflow for animating a skeleton. We start by adding flexibility to the limbs working from the feet up. Unlike with the creation and skinning of a skeleton, there are no Symmetry Tools to simplify rigging, so what you do on a left limb must be duplicated on the right limb. In this tutorial, we will create the left limb as an example for the workflow.
Recorded in: 3ds Max 2013
This tutorial is intended for use with 3ds Max version 2013 or higher.
00:00:02 --> 00:00:09 With the skeleton in place and the geometry properly skinned to the skeleton, it is now time to rig your character.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:16 Unlike automated systems like biped or CAT, here, you need to do the work manually.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:22 This includes setting up IK chains, adding helpers to manipulate the skeleton,
00:00:22 --> 00:00:27 and ultimately adding custom attributes to simplify the animation process.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:35 You'll start with the left foot but keep in mind that the workflow shown here is by no means the only way to rig a foot.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:40 You'll start with the IK chains that drive the behavior of the left foot.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:45 There are no shortcuts or symmetry tools to rig left and right limbs,
00:00:45 --> 00:00:50 so what you learn to do on one foot, you'll need to reproduce on the other.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:56 Hide the Geometry category before moving on. You won't need to see the character's mesh for a while.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 You can also hide the mesh layer if you prefer that technique.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:06 Unhide the IK/FK bones on the arms by using Unhide All.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:11 This may be a good time to view the scene in wireframe mode by using F3.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 Zoom in on the left leg and adjust your point of view.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:21 You will need three IK solvers to control the behavior of the left foot.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:31 Select the foot and then choose Animation > IK Solvers > HI Solver and then point and click the left thigh.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:36 A new IK Chain is created that you can manipulate to drive the heel.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:40 The gizmo you manipulate is referred to as an IK Goal.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:31 Align it to the ball of the left foot, pivot to pivot, in position and orientation modes.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:35 Make sure you align it to the bone and not to the IK Goal.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:43 This way, it will be oriented the same as the bone, and so favors the local-Z axis as a primary rotation.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:51 Looking at it from the left view, it is slightly angled.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:57 You can leave it like that but if you prefer a cleaner look, you can adjust the angle slightly.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:10 More importantly, it's still generally oriented the same way as the bone, with the local Z-axis as a primary rotation axis.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:21 Use Shift+Move to make a clone of the point helper.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:28 Make sure it's set to Copy and name it: zombie_l_Heel_hlp
00:04:32 --> 00:04:41 Align it to the heel bone but only in position. This works better visually and the Z-axis is still oriented in the correct direction.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:51 Use Shift+Move again to make another clone in Copy mode and name it: zombie_l_ToeLift_hlp
00:04:53 --> 00:04:57 Align it to the toe nub in Position XYZ only.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:07 Select the zombie_l_HeelPeel_hlp helper again and make another copy, this time using Edit > Clone.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:15 Make sure you are set in Copy mode and name the clone zombie_l_ToeTap_hlp
00:05:17 --> 00:05:23 In the Modify panel set its size to be slightly larger, a value of 5 should be adequate.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:28 The position of the toe tip and heel helpers still need a bit of adjusting.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:32 You'll need to temporarily unhide the geometry to help you with that task.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 Go to a side view such as Left.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:40 Display the grid by using the G toggle,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 and select the heel helper.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:51 Set its Z-Position to 0 so its level with the ground.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:57 Move it back on the X-Axis so it's located at the back of the foot.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:01 This helper will eventually act as a pivot point for the heel rotation.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:08 Similarly, select the toe tip helper and set its Z-Position to 0.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:14 If you need to, adjust its X-Position so that it is at the shoe tip.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:19 This will act as a rotation base for when the toes are in contact with the ground.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:24 Leave the other two helpers where you previously placed them.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:31 As a side note, notice how the different object types have different suffixes,
00:06:31 --> 00:06:37 bone for bone objects, hlp for helpers and IKGoal for IK solutions.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:42 This is all part of scene management to make objects easier to identify.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:48 Speaking of which, you may want to go to the Layer
Rigging a Character in 3ds Max - Part 1 - Foot Helpers and IK Chains
00:03:21 --> 00:03:31 Align it to the ball of the left foot, pivot to pivot, in position and orientation modes.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:35 Make sure you align it to the bone and not to the IK Goal.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:43 This way, it will be oriented the same as the bone, and so favors the local-Z axis as a primary rotation.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:51 Looking at it from the left view, it is slightly angled.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:57 You can leave it like that but if you prefer a cleaner look, you can adjust the angle slightly.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:10 More importantly, it's still generally oriented the same way as the bone, with the local Z-axis as a primary rotation axis.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:21 Use Shift+Move to make a clone of the point helper.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:28 Make sure it's set to Copy and name it: zombie_l_Heel_hlp
00:04:32 --> 00:04:41 Align it to the heel bone but only in position. This works better visually and the Z-axis is still oriented in the correct direction.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:51 Use Shift+Move again to make another clone in Copy mode and name it: zombie_l_ToeLift_hlp
00:04:53 --> 00:04:57 Align it to the toe nub in Position XYZ only.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:07 Select the zombie_l_HeelPeel_hlp helper again and make another copy, this time using Edit > Clone.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:15 Make sure you are set in Copy mode and name the clone zombie_l_ToeTap_hlp
00:05:17 --> 00:05:23 In the Modify panel set its size to be slightly larger, a value of 5 should be adequate.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:28 The position of the toe tip and heel helpers still need a bit of adjusting.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:32 You'll need to temporarily unhide the geometry to help you with that task.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 Go to a side view such as Left.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:40 Display the grid by using the G toggle,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 and select the heel helper.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:51 Set its Z-Position to 0 so its level with the ground.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:57 Move it back on the X-Axis so it's located at the back of the foot.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:01 This helper will eventually act as a pivot point for the heel rotation.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:08 Similarly, select the toe tip helper and set its Z-Position to 0.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:14 If you need to, adjust its X-Position so that it is at the shoe tip.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:19 This will act as a rotation base for when the toes are in contact with the ground.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:24 Leave the other two helpers where you previously placed them.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:31 As a side note, notice how the different object types have different suffixes,
00:06:31 --> 00:06:37 bone for bone objects, hlp for helpers and IKGoal for IK solutions.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:42 This is all part of scene management to make objects easier to identify.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:48 Speaking of which, you may want to go to the Layers toolbar and freeze the Mesh layer again.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:56 This way, you can still see the geometry but you won't be able to select it, making the selection of helpers and goals easier.
00:06:57 --> 00:07:02 You're now ready to make the proper connections and hierarchies between the IK Goals and Point Helpers.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:05 This is what you will do in the next movie.
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