A Taste of Maya. Character Setup

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1 This tutorial goes through the steps to add aimatio cotrols to a previously modeled character. The character i the scee below is wearig clothes made with Cloth ad the sceery has bee created with Pait Effects. The followig topics are discussed: Creatig skeletos, Usig Smooth Ski to bid a model to a skeleto, Addig IK chais for efficiet character cotrol, ad Combiig custom attributes ad Set Drive Key to automate character cotrols. A Taste of Maya A aimated character

Before you start: This tutorial requires Maya scee files. If you have t istalled the tutorial files go to the Try Maya sectio of the Taste of Maya CDROM to istall.

2 Before you start: This tutorial requires Maya scee files. If you have t istalled the tutorial files go to the Try Maya sectio of the Taste of Maya CDROM to istall. Startig Maya: You ca start Maya by double-clickig the Maya 2.5 Evaluatio ico o the desktop or from Start Programs Maya 2.5 Evaluatio Maya. I Maya: Oce the tutorial files have bee istalled you will eed to set the curret project i order to access the Maya scee files. To set the curret project from withi Maya select File Project Set... ad Navigate to the directory where you istalled the Maya scee files. Select the directory: Maya_tutorial_data ad press OK. BUILD A SKELETON 1 Ope the file charactermodel1.ma 2 Press F2 to chage the meu set to aimatio 3 I the side view build leg joits with Skeleto Joit Tool as show below start at the hip ad place a joit at the kee, akle, heel, ball ad toe of the leg. There should be five joits i total. Whe you have placed all five joits press eter to complete the leg. Tip: Hold the x key whe placig joits to sap to the grid. Start joit kee joit ed joit ball joit akle joit heel joit Joits placed for the right leg 2 A Taste of Maya Jauary 2000, Alias Wavefrot, a divisio of Silico Graphics Limited. All rights reserved. By usig this tutorial, you have agreed to the terms ad coditios which ca be foud i the setup.exe file i the Istall Tutorials folder of the Taste of Maya CD-ROM.

3 To see your Maya display as pictured, press 6 to trasfer to textured mode ad Shadig Shade Optios X- Ray. 4 I the frot view move the leg over so that it matches the geometry of the right leg Press w to use the move tool. Click o the right arrow of the maipulator to costrai the movemet to the x-axis. Use the MMB to move the leg to fit i the geometry If you wat to chage the joit display size select Display Joit Size ad choose a differet size 5 I the side view build the back with Skeleto Joit Tool as show below Place the first joit slightly above the hip joit. There should be eight joits i total. Press eter to complete the back skeleto Ed joit Start joit Joits placed for the back 6 I the top view build the right arm joits with Skeleto Joit Tool as show below The arm is made up of five joits startig at the clavicle. Press eter to complete the skeleto. Jauary 2000, Alias Wavefrot, a divisio of Silico Graphics Limited. All rights reserved. By usig this tutorial, you have agreed to the terms ad coditios which ca be foud i the setup.exe file i the Istall Tutorials folder of the Taste of Maya CD-ROM. A Taste of Maya 3

Start joit (clavicle) Ed joit shoulder joit Joits placed for the right arm 7 Move the skeleto chai up to fit i the arm Use the move tool ad costrai the movemet to the y-axis usig the

8 Select the shoulder joit ad rotate ad scale it so that the boes are orieted correctly with the arm Adjustig the arm boes to match the arm geometry 9 Select the right clavicle joit ad shift

4 Start joit (clavicle) Ed joit shoulder joit Joits placed for the right arm 7 Move the skeleto chai up to fit i the arm Use the move tool ad costrai the movemet to the y-axis usig the maipulators. 8 Select the shoulder joit ad rotate ad scale it so that the boes are orieted correctly with the arm Adjustig the arm boes to match the arm geometry 9 Select the right clavicle joit ad shift select the joit at the base of the eck ad Edit Paret The clavicle is the joit above the shoulder, closest to the spie. 4 A Taste of Maya Jauary 2000, Alias Wavefrot, a divisio of Silico Graphics Limited. All rights reserved. By usig this tutorial, you have agreed to the terms ad coditios which ca be foud i the setup.exe file i the Istall Tutorials folder of the Taste of Maya CD-ROM.

5 To select a joit you ca click LMB directly o the joit or you ca click LMB drag across the boe below it. For example to select the elbow joit you would click LMB drag across the forearm boe 10 Create the left arm Select the right clavicle. Choose Skeleto Mirror Joit p to ope up the optios dialogue box. Set the followig optios: Mirror Across: YZ Press Mirror to create the left arm. Mirrorig the arm 11 Paret the right leg to the back skeleto by selectig the right hip joit followed by the joit at the base of the back ad Edit Paret 12 Create the left leg by selectig the right hip ad Skeleto Mirror Joit SKIN THE CHARACTER 1 Ope the file charactermodel2.ma or cotiue from the last step 2 Ski the body of the character first Select the body of the character Do ot select the feet surfaces at this step. They will be boud to the skeleto i a later step. Shift-select the root joit of the skeleto The root joit is the joit at the base of the back that all of the other joits brach off from. Whe it is selected ad you move it all the other joits i the hierarchy will move as well. Select Ski Bid Ski Smooth Bid. 3 Test the bid by rotatig joits i the skeleto Tip: Use the z key to udo ay joit rotatios so the character is i the previous pose or use Ski Go to BId Pose. Jauary 2000, Alias Wavefrot, a divisio of Silico Graphics Limited. All rights reserved. By usig this tutorial, you have agreed to the terms ad coditios which ca be foud i the setup.exe file i the Istall Tutorials folder of the Taste of Maya CD-ROM. A Taste of Maya 5

4 Ski the feet ext Select the joits of the right leg from the kee to the toe. Start by selectig the toe joit ad the shift selectig the ball joit, heel joit, akle joit ad the kee joit.

6 4 Ski the feet ext Select the joits of the right leg from the kee to the toe. Start by selectig the toe joit ad the shift selectig the ball joit, heel joit, akle joit ad the kee joit. Tip: This selectio may be doe easily i the Hypergraph or the Outlier. Shift-select the right foot geometry 5 Ski Bid Ski Smooth Bid p, ad set the followig optios: Bid to: Selected Joits Because the feet are so big, this will keep them from gettig skied to joits that they should t be associated with. 6 Repeat steps 4 ad 5 for the left foot Bidig the shoe to the skeleto ADD IK TO THE ARMS AND LEGS 1 Ope the file charactermodel3.ma or cotiue from the last step 2 Activate the IK Hadle tool with Skeleto IK Hadle Tool p, ad set the followig optios: Curret Solver: ikrpsolver IK Hadles give you cotrol over the motio of several joits at oce. IK Hadles allow you to move oe object (the IK Hadle) ad have several other objects (joits) chage positio by rotatig. This allows you to aimate a skeleto quickly as you oly eed to cotrol oe or two IK hadles to get create lots of motio. 3 Click o the right hip joit followed by the right akle joit to add a IK chai to the right leg. Press the y key to repeat for the left leg. Pressig the y key puts Maya back ito the tool that was used last. I this case pressig y is the same as selectig Skeleto IK Hadle Tool 6 A Taste of Maya Jauary 2000, Alias Wavefrot, a divisio of Silico Graphics Limited. All rights reserved. By usig this tutorial, you have agreed to the terms ad coditios which ca be foud i the setup.exe file i the Istall Tutorials folder of the Taste of Maya CD-ROM.

7 4 Repeat for the arms by pressig the y key ad clickig o a shoulder followed by the correspodig wrist. IK chai added to the arms ad legs Tip: It is a good idea to reame the IK hadles to keep the scee orgaized. Select a IK hadle ad reame it by clickig o the ame at the top of the chael box. 5 You may test the IK chais by selectig a IK hadle ad movig it Udo ay trasformatios with the z key after you are fiished testig. ADD IK SPLINE TO THE BACK 1 Ope the file charactermodel4.ma or cotiue from the last step Jauary 2000, Alias Wavefrot, a divisio of Silico Graphics Limited. All rights reserved. By usig this tutorial, you have agreed to the terms ad coditios which ca be foud i the setup.exe file i the Istall Tutorials folder of the Taste of Maya CD-ROM. A Taste of Maya 7

2 Select the right eye followed by the joit at the top of the head ad Edit Paret Paretig the eye to the skeleto 3 Select the left eye followed by the joit at the top of the head ad

You may test the IK Splie by selectig the IK hadle ad chagig the value of the Twist attribute. 8 A Taste of Maya Jauary 2000, Alias Wavefrot, a divisio of Silico Graphics Limited.

8 2 Select the right eye followed by the joit at the top of the head ad Edit Paret Paretig the eye to the skeleto 3 Select the left eye followed by the joit at the top of the head ad Edit Paret 4 Activate the IK Splie Hadle tool with Skeleto IK Splie Hadle Tool, ad click o the stomach joit followed by the joit at the base of the eck Addig IK Splie to the back You may test the IK Splie by selectig the IK hadle ad chagig the value of the Twist attribute. 8 A Taste of Maya Jauary 2000, Alias Wavefrot, a divisio of Silico Graphics Limited. All rights reserved. By usig this tutorial, you have agreed to the terms ad coditios which ca be foud i the setup.exe file i the Istall Tutorials folder of the Taste of Maya CD-ROM.

ADD CONTROL FOR THE HEAD 1 Ope the file charactermodel5.

9 Testig the IK Splie The IK Splie is cotrolled by a curve. Whe you create the IK Splie, the curve will be pareted to the skeleto. If you select the curve ad press F8 to chage to compoet mode, you ca move the CVs of the curve to cotrol the back further. Remember to press F8 whe fiished testig to retur to object mode. ADD CONTROL FOR THE HEAD 1 Ope the file charactermodel5.ma or cotiue from the last step 2 Select the root joit ad Display Object Compoets Selectio Hadles Selectio hadle added to the root joit Jauary 2000, Alias Wavefrot, a divisio of Silico Graphics Limited. All rights reserved. By usig this tutorial, you have agreed to the terms ad coditios which ca be foud i the setup.exe file i the Istall Tutorials folder of the Taste of Maya CD-ROM. A Taste of Maya 9

Selectio Hadles have the highest priority for selectig geometry. This meas it will always be easy to select the root joit. 3 With the root joit selected, Modify Add Attribute.

10 Selectio Hadles have the highest priority for selectig geometry. This meas it will always be easy to select the root joit. 3 With the root joit selected, Modify Add Attribute... 4 Eter a attribute ame of headtur ad press OK A extra attribute has ow bee added to the root joit. You should see it i the chael box. 5 Ope the Set Drive Key widow with Aimate Set Drive Key Set p Set Drive Key is a type of key available i Maya that allows you to coect a attribute from oe object to a attribute of aother object. For example you could have a sphere ad a coe. The sphere s traslate Y could drive the scale Y of the coe. Whe you move the sphere i a defied rage of values i the Y axis the scale Y of the coe would chage accordigly. To use the Set Drive Key widow you eed to have a driver ad a drive object to load. Oce they are loaded you modify attributes o both the driver ad drive ad key them with the key butto i the Set Drive Key widow. 6 With the root joit still selected, press Load Driver 7 Select the joit at the base of the eck followed by the joit at the base of the head ad press Load Drive 8 Set iitial key for Set Drive Key I the Set Drive Key widow, highlight headtur for the driver. Click drag o the two drive joits ad the o rotatex ad press Key base of head base of eck The Set Drive Key widow 10 A Taste of Maya Jauary 2000, Alias Wavefrot, a divisio of Silico Graphics Limited. All rights reserved. By usig this tutorial, you have agreed to the terms ad coditios which ca be foud i the setup.exe file i the Istall Tutorials folder of the Taste of Maya CD-ROM.

9 I the Set Drive Key widow click o the Driver joit to activate it i the Chael Box ad set Head Tur to 10 If you click o the ame of a object listed i the Set Drive Key widow (either the driver or

11 9 I the Set Drive Key widow click o the Driver joit to activate it i the Chael Box ad set Head Tur to 10 If you click o the ame of a object listed i the Set Drive Key widow (either the driver or drive), it will become the selected object ad it s attributes will show up i the Chael Box 10 I the Set Drive Key widow click drag o the two drive joits to activate them ad rotate them about 30 degrees i X You ca use the rotate tool ad costrai the rotatio to the x-axis usig the rotate maipulator or you ca type the value ito the Chael Box. 11 Press the Key butto i the Set Drive Key Widow 12 I the Set Drive Key widow click o the Driver joit to activate it i the Chael Box ad set the Head Tur attribute to I the Set Drive Key widow click drag o the two Drive joits to activate them ad rotate them about -30 degrees i X 14 Press the Key butto i the Set Drive Key Widow Now that this setup is complete whe you chage the value of the headtur attribute o the root joit it will cause the rotatex to chage o the other two joits. If you select the root joit of the character ad go to the Chael Box you ca click o the Head Tur attribute. Oce the Head Tur attribute is highlighted (ot the umber but the actual words), you ca use your MMB i the perspective view ad click drag left or right to chage the values iteractively. Twistig the eck with Set Drive Key ad a custom attribute You may test the setup by adjustig the Head Tur value betwee -10 ad 10. To stop the arms from movig you may keyframe the IK hadles with s or tur Stickiess ON i the Attribute Editor uder IK Hadle Attributes. Jauary 2000, Alias Wavefrot, a divisio of Silico Graphics Limited. All rights reserved. By usig this tutorial, you have agreed to the terms ad coditios which ca be foud i the setup.exe file i the Istall Tutorials folder of the Taste of Maya CD-ROM. A Taste of Maya 11

12 ANIMATING THE CHARACTER The fial versio of this file is called charactermodel6.ma. If you wat to try aimatig the character ope this file. The mai differece i this file is that the foot has bee setup more completely for walkig. Selectio hadles have bee added to each of the IK hadles for easier selectig. The character ready for aimatig The feet odes have a added attribute called roll. If you adjust this attribute the foot will roll from heel to toe makig for a ice walkig motio. This foot setup comes from the Character Aimatio i Maya class. The foot set to roll whe walkig 12 A Taste of Maya Jauary 2000, Alias Wavefrot, a divisio of Silico Graphics Limited. All rights reserved. By usig this tutorial, you have agreed to the terms ad coditios which ca be foud i the setup.exe file i the Istall Tutorials folder of the Taste of Maya CD-ROM.

Roll attribute added to left_foot ode displayed i chael box Select oe of the foot selectio hadles I the Chael box you will see the selected object.

13 Roll attribute added to left_foot ode displayed i chael box Select oe of the foot selectio hadles I the Chael box you will see the selected object. Notice that there is a extra attribute o the foot called Roll. Click o the word Roll to highlight it. It should appear black as i the above image. Move your mouse over to the perspective view or oe of the othographic views. Press the MMB ad drag your mouse left or right. Whe you press the MMB a ew mouse ico should appear that looks like arrows poitig left ad right. The followig poits should help you to aimate the character: right_wrist back left_wrist root right_foot left_foot Selectio hadles Oly the followig six odes eed to be aimated: root, back, right_wrist, left_wrist, right_foot ad left_foot. Keyframes ca be set with s or with Aimate Set Key Jauary 2000, Alias Wavefrot, a divisio of Silico Graphics Limited. All rights reserved. By usig this tutorial, you have agreed to the terms ad coditios which ca be foud i the setup.exe file i the Istall Tutorials folder of the Taste of Maya CD-ROM. A Taste of Maya 13

14 Aimatio curves ca be adjusted with Widow Aimatio Editors Graph Editor... Whe settig keys, start with the root ad feet odes to block out the aimatio The fier aimatio of the arms, back ad feet rollig should be secodary You ca get a real-time playback with Widow Playblast There are other aimatio workflows covered i the Comic Book ad Jellyfish tutorials. CONCLUSION You have ow experieced how easy it is to prepare a character for aimatio i Maya. This icludes the followig topics: Creatig joits ad buildig skeletos, Addig a IK chai to cotrol arms ad legs, Usig the IK Splie to the back for smooth ad orgaic cotrol, Makig custom attributes for fier cotrol, Set Drive Key to create relatioships betwee odes to simplify character cotrol, ad Some basic aimatio cocepts i Maya. Character setup ad aimatio ca be very complex topics to cover. Alias Wavefrot offers a Character Aimatio course that explores these topics i depth. For more iformatio go to (Express Lik to Traiig). 14 A Taste of Maya Jauary 2000, Alias Wavefrot, a divisio of Silico Graphics Limited. All rights reserved. By usig this tutorial, you have agreed to the terms ad coditios which ca be foud i the setup.exe file i the Istall Tutorials folder of the Taste of Maya CD-ROM.

Parabolic Path to a Best Best-Fit Line:

Parabolic Path to a Best Best-Fit Line: Studet Activity : Fidig the Least Squares Regressio Lie By Explorig the Relatioship betwee Slope ad Residuals Objective: How does oe determie a best best-fit lie for a set of data? Eyeballig it may be