Blender and Rigging

I did something so awful for my project in Animation 2. Well, by awful I mean my rig wouldn't weight paint correctly. So frustrated about that.

Blender forums did help. Moreso than other forums.

Why Am I using blender? I made a mistake earlier on, by modeling and UV texturing in blender, so it wouldn't transfer over to Maya. Maya is the program that my class is using. I prefer blender because its more clear for modeling at least. I feel maya is easier for Animation.

Both are frustrating me in regards to rigging, however.

I just learned something merciful. Blender has a script that makes a plain biped rig, clean and general. I just learned that a few moments ago. I can't believe it. What a great idea. I hope that a quadruped could be made. I think I would contribute that.

It is called rigify, and you go to user preferences, and check the box to add it. In the regular blender screen, you can go into the menu by pressing shift+a, and choose armature. From there, you will see the script. Pretty nifty, huh?

Anyway.... I'm not going to be sleeping tonight because this project is due tomorrow, the final animation. Ugh.

Animating Character for Animation 2

I have yet another character project to work on. This time it is for class.

I got stuck doing it in Blender, foolishly, because Maya can't figure out how to import an unwrapped object correctly. Seriously, it butchered my UVs. Everyone else in the class is using Maya. Ugh. As long as I get a finished object that moves as I want it to....
The problem is, Blender is great for 3d modelling and animation, but Maya has some professional tools, and leagues more documentation.

So now I have to finish the animation in Blender, yeah.

.... I guess I can tell things I found useful lately.
If I don't find a tutorial on how to rig and skin it, I suppose I shall have to make my own tutorial. I've always wanted to make blender or gimp tutorials.

How to 'Hide' the mesh while making the armature:
http://www.blender.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19991&sid=24b2eeb40edc3a0f583f258805dbc417

This is the tutorial I am using so far.
http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:Tutorials/Animation/BSoD/Character_Animation/Upper_body_weight_painting

-MNR

More truths about game art

• Nobody wants to be the rigger or animator.
• Its an awful thing