Advanced Rigging for 3D Characters and Creatures

Starting at

$

35

/hr

About this service

Summary

Rigging driving you crazy? Deadline approaching and need to save time? Look no further, I'm here to help. I offer a complete and professional rigging service for humanoid characters, ready to be integrated into Unity, Unreal Engine, Maya, or Blender. Here's what you can expect:  • Precise bone placement for an optimal structure.  • Bone orientation and naming following best practices for seamless integration.  • Skin weighting for realistic and natural deformations.  • Facial rigging: with bones and/or blend shapes for rich and varied expressions. Whether it's for video games, animations, or any other 3D project, I provide custom rigging, ready for use.

Process

Planning with the Client
Define Requirements: Discuss the rig's use and level of detail needed. References: Gather visual and animation references. Tools and Formats: Confirm software and file formats. Technical Specs: Determine constraints and compatibility.
Setting Up the Main Joints (Skeleton Setup)
Skeleton Creation: Place main joints starting with the spine. Hierarchy: Create a clean joint hierarchy. Joint Orientations: Ensure correct joint orientation for smooth rotations.
Skinning and Weight Management (Skin Weights)
Skin Application: Bind geometry to the skeleton. Weight Adjustment: Refine weights for realistic deformations. Deformation Testing: Test poses to correct deformations.
Facial Rigging
Facial Joints/Blend Shapes: Use joints or blend shapes for the face. Facial Controls: Create controllers for facial parts. Expression Testing: Verify and correct facial expressions.
Corrective Shapes if Needed (Corrective Blend Shapes)
Identify Issues: Find problematic deformations. Create Corrective Shapes: Fix issues with corrective blend shapes. Automate Correctives: Use driven keys for automatic fixes.
Adding Controllers (Control Rig)
Main Controllers: Create IK/FK controllers for animation. Secondary Controllers: Add controllers for detailed parts. User Interface: Simplify controls with visible curves.
Testing and Corrections
Animation Tests: Create animations to verify the rig. Feedback: Adjust based on client feedback.
Finalization and Export
Cleanup: Remove unused objects and optimize. Proper Naming: Name joints and controllers clearly. Export: Export rig in the required format.

FAQs

  • Is the rig compatible with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine?

    Yes, the rig works with Unity and Unreal Engine, optimized for real-time performance. I can also handle full integration, including controller setup.

  • What happens if modifications are needed after delivery?

    I understand that there may be adjustments once you start working with the rig. That's why I offer a support period after delivery to make minor changes if needed, ensuring the rig perfectly meets your needs.

  • Have you created complex rigs before?

    Absolutely, I have experience with advanced rigs that include blend shapes for detailed facial expressions, as well as rigs with complex mechanisms for stylized characters. I make sure every rig is efficient while remaining easy for animators to use.

What's included

  • Functional and Optimized Rig File:

    The main deliverable is the rigged character file, ready to be integrated into the production pipeline. The rig is optimized for game engines (such as Unreal Engine or Unity) or other animation software, and may include intuitive controls for easy use by animators. The file can be provided in the required format (Maya, Blender, 3ds Max, etc.).

  • Rig Usage Documentation:

    A manual or user guide accompanying the rig, explaining the available controllers, how they work, and instructions for basic animations. This document is essential for animators to understand how to manipulate the rig without difficulty, ensuring a smooth transition to production.

  • Animation Tests:

    A series of short test animations to demonstrate that the rig works properly. This can include key poses, complex movements, facial expressions, and deformation tests to verify that the skinning is correct in all situations. These animations show the client that the rig meets quality requirements and is suitable for the project's needs.

  • Blend Shapes or Facial Morphs:

    If the rig includes facial expressions, blend shapes or morphs are delivered. These tools allow animators to bring characters to life with varied and realistic expressions. Each blend shape is tested and prepared to be easily used in animation.

  • Explanatory/Demonstration Video:

    A short video showing how to use the rig optimally can also be provided. This allows animators to see directly how each part of the rig is supposed to be manipulated, reducing the learning curve and minimizing the risk of errors.

  • Technical Support and Adjustments:

    A period of technical support after delivery during which I remain available to answer questions or make minor adjustments is included. This ensures smooth integration of the rig into your pipeline and adapts to any unforeseen needs.

  • Integration File for Game Engine (if needed):

    If necessary, an integration file containing specific parameters for the target game engine (such as Unreal or Unity) can be provided. This ensures that the rig works directly with the engine without the need for additional tweaks.

  • Well-Organized Final Asset:

    The final asset is clean and well-organized, with clear layer and controller names, to facilitate any future modifications and ensure a good understanding by other team members. This allows for faster integration and better long-term maintenance.

  • LOD (Level of Detail) Preparation:

    If the project requires different levels of detail (LOD), I also provide simplified versions of the rig to be used in contexts where performance needs to be optimized (e.g., for distant scenes or low-power systems).


Skills and tools

3D Animator

Autodesk Maya

Blender

Industries

Advertising
Media and Entertainment