Template Based Procedural Rigging of Quadrupeds with Custom Manipulators

Abstract

Character rigging is a process of endowing a character with a set of custom manipulators and controls making it easy to animate by the animators. These controls consist of simple joints, handles, or even separate character selection windows. This research paper present an automated rigging system for quadruped characters with custom controls and manipulators for animation. The full character rigging mechanism is procedurally driven based on various principles and requirements used by the riggers and animators. The automation is achieved initially by creating widgets according to the character type. These widgets then can be customized by the rigger according to the character shape, height and proportion. Then joint locations for each body parts are calculated and widgets are replaced programmatically. Finally a complete and fully operational procedurally generated character control rig is created and attached with the underlying skeletal joints. The functionality and feasibility of the rig was analyzed from various source of actual character motion and a requirements criterion was met. The final rigged character provides an efficient and easy to manipulate control rig with no lagging and at high frame rate.

Analysis of Design Principles and Requirements for Procedural Rigging of Bipeds and Quadrupeds Characters with Custom Manipulators for Animation

“…This system will facilitate the novice character rigger and animator greatly by aiding to create and use an advance character rig through very few user intervention.The major benefits of using procedural technique to automatically create biped or quadruped rig is that the time spent to build a system for dynamic motion control and deformation system is decreased by scripting the entire process and generating the rig through a very few mouse click. This widget based system provides a practical solution to the real life problem of character rigging and animation.This work is an extension of previously presented work on Biped Rigging [4] and for Quadruped Rigging in [5].…”

Physical Rigging Procedures Based on Character Type and Design in 3D Animation

“…For the masculine character, the process is quite complicated because we need to attach muscle simulation into bone, especially for the realistic animation. From the guideline discussed by Bhati, Z., Shah, A., Waqas, A., & Malik, H. A. M, [19] earlier, we found out, human movement can be predicted and the rig should be assigned based on the predicted behavior of the character and the control structure should be simple with minimum controllers. Most importantly is to consider how the character perform and act in the story to bring out the character personality.…”

“…Visual methodologies are a new and novel approach to qualitative research derived from traditional ethnography methods used in anthropology and sociology [24]. The visual analysis will be conducted to interpret types of rigging system that has been used in the visual based on the guideline proposed by Bhati, Z., Shah, A., Waqas, A., & Malik, H. A. M, [19].…”

“…As a result, the following characteristics can be used to help the process of character rigging in any character type and design suggested by Bhati, Z., Shah, A., Waqas, A., & Malik, H. A. M [19] for procedural rigging system:…”

“…For the purpose of this study, our experiment will be based on the guideline proposed by Bhati, Z., Shah, A., Waqas, A., & Malik, H. A. M [19]. They suggested two basics standard criteria for rigging system in animation rig production.…”