Eel progress

Nearly done with painting the weights and I have to say its going very well. All the weights I paint are staying in place and I am ironing out all the creases. I should not have a problem with painting weights ever again now I know the correct method. I just feel that I should have perhaps tried to learn what was wrong faster, that way I could have fixed the squirrel. Although I guess this is a learning process, and you can only learn by making mistakes and then attempting to improve upon the next time.

Eureka! Painting weights solved

I have finally found out why I have been having such epic problems with painting weights. The solution or should I say correct method was revealed to me while watching this video on painting weights.

Basically the guy in the video just runs through painting weights and discusses the key facts. He then spoke about the correct settings for adding weights to the joints. It is best to always use 'Add' and never to use 'Replace' because apparently when using 'Replace', influence is added to random parts of the mesh and screws everything up. As soon as he said that I knew it was the root of all the problems I have been having. So I went straight into maya and did a test, using Add is definitely the correct way and using replace does indeed cause the problems. So this has been the issue on my squirrel rig and the mother of all problems on my joe rig. I will now use this knowledge and paint effective weights onto the eel.

Clusters on spine

I was browsing through tutorials and came across one on creating a spine setup using clusters. I figured it maybe exactly what I need and gave it a try. The rough test I did was quite effective and I liked the movement it gave me so I have decided it will be part of the final rig. Below in the picture you can see the 5 clusters I have created using the spans on the spline curve. This was made really simply, using an IK spline handle, from which I select the spline curve and create clusters. I created about 5 as I felt that would be more than enough for the fluid movement I was after.

The tutorial link is HERE . It is by Javier Solsona. I used one of his tutorials on reverse footlock on the Joe rig I am working on.

Base skeleton in place

I have the basic skeleton in place now. As per usual I have been strict with the naming so no confusion occurs during the rest of the rigging process. I am not sure what kind of method I will be using for the body yet but I remember using an IK spline for a test rig I did way back in second year which was very good for achieving a fluid, soft movement for this sort of shaped model, something with no limbs. So I will possibly think about using that.

What next?

I have decided to put the Joe rig on hold for the moment as I need something simpler to work on while testing weights and so forth. So what I plan to do is basically create a simple rig for the eel character I made for 'The Deep'. I originally planned to do this ages ago, but it never worked out that way so better late than never. This rig will be all about making sure I nail the weights and get the skin bound correctly.

Still having issues with weights

Yes...I am still having issues with weights. The worst part is now the rig at the moment has gone into meltdown. After attempting to paint the weights and hold them in place the other day, the rig now has some major problems. If I move the controllers for the torso or arm the model almost tears itself apart as parts are being pulled away. I feel quite annoyed by this because obviously the problem lies with the weights and for some reason I just have not solved the issue yet. I have a strange feeling that perhaps my version of maya is just a little buggy with the weights but I cannot say if that is definitely the case. I will ask others to see if they have similar problems and then decide what to do.

Reverse footlock tutorial

To learn how to create the reverse footlock I used a tutorial I found on the internet by Javier ' Goosh' Solsona. I found the tutorial to be very straight forward and effective as I only needed to go through it twice to pick up the method. The link is here : REVERSE FOOTLOCK LINK

He also has a bunch of other tutorials up on how to create elastic feet, FK/IK switching. I have skimmed through a few and may use a few more in the future to learn a few things.