Rigging

[joconnell]

Heya Ranimator,

michael isner and aaron sims wrote a book about character creation - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592002102/sr=8-3/qid=1142007276/ref=pd_bbs_3/103-8388291-2631801?%5Fencoding=UTF8 but personally I thought it was too broad in a lot of its techniques - it goes over all of the steps from modelling to rendering but it doesn't really cover anything in particular detail. something like the 3dtutorial.com rigging series is a little more focused on rigging specifically so might be a better choice.

[Felipe]

Character rigging series from 3D Tutorial is great. I have it and it worth every penny. I learned tons from it...and don't worry it's based on XSI 3.5 cause AFAIK the rig system didn't have significant changes from 3.5 to 5.

Digital Tutors recently released a rig series as well, but I can't comment on those cause I haven't seen it yet. You probably should take a look at them as well.

Cheers,
Felipe

[SevenString]

Yeah, it's interesting to note that one of XSI's greatest strengths is it's well-thought out architecture. XSI doesn't suffer from fundemental paradigm shifts or "plugin-itis" as it evolves from version to version. Despite all of the latest goodies in V5, I still use training material for older versions as reference.

In particular, your comment about character rigging having not gone through drastic changes is valid, but I guess the XSI developers know when to leave a good thing alone.

Even after two years of using XSI, the love affair is still there.

[3DQUAKERS]

Rigging in XSI, except at the very basic level, requires a lot of work and workarounds.
XSI generates a lot of dependency loops and rotation instabilities. I think that Softimage really need to address these issues for future releases.

To ease things out, we are soon releasing RiggingPro which we intend to be an advanced, production level rigging training for film and cartoon work. It will feature FK IK Blending, Stretchy limbs, Automatic twisting, Autoclavicle controls and much much more.
All the controls will be custom made. We did not use any of the built-in XSI rig parts. Instead, everything will be created from scratch.
I will be posting a demo within a few days.

[withanar]

Rigging in XSI, except at the very basic level, requires a lot of work and workarounds.
XSI generates a lot of dependency loops and rotation instabilities. I think that Softimage really need to address these issues for future releases.

Um, what are you talking about? I'm sorry if this comes off as chest beating, but when a source of mass training materials makes a statement this off base, it would be irresponsible not to challenge it.

[3DQUAKERS]

Hi withanar,
Ever created some rotation expressions, did some rotation, undid, only to get a different rotation angle than the one you started with ?
If you do the exact same thing in another application, things just go back to normal.

Having said this, I use and love XSI as much as the next guy, and do not want to go into any debate in that area. Just wanted to point this out so it might have a chance of getting corrected eventually.

[withanar]

Hi withanar,
Ever created some rotation expressions, did some rotation, undid, only to get a different rotation angle than the one you started with ?
If you do the exact same thing in another application, things just go back to normal.


On occasion I have seen that behavior, and it tends to happen when you're in an interpolative transform mode, rather than add mode which is where I do most of my rigging. Having an occasional bug on an undo command is a far cry from the generalization that "Rigging in XSI... requires a lot of work and workarounds" which, in my experience is not true.

Would I like to see that particular bug squashed? Yes. Would I dismiss all XSI rigging because of it? Not yet. There's still too much cool stuff you can do with advanced constraint blending, action sources, offsets, soft relationships, pivots, etc.

[ntmonkey]

Hi withanar,
Ever created some rotation expressions, did some rotation, undid, only to get a different rotation angle than the one you started with ?
If you do the exact same thing in another application, things just go back to normal.

Having said this, I use and love XSI as much as the next guy, and do not want to go into any debate in that area. Just wanted to point this out so it might have a chance of getting corrected eventually.

I think anyone could just as easily point out one flaw with another animation system. Might not occur at the same places, but there are things in XSI that Maya can't do that I think are essential to production rigging. This goes across the board for every app on the market.

As for logging issues, this is probably the worst place air dirty laundry about feature and bugs. You basically took a piss in the ocean on this one.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to your demo in a few days.

peace,

Lu

[Ramimator]

THANX for replies...anyway i will check the 3dtutorial.com....it seems a good idea to have something focusing on every part..anyway 3DQUAKERS.. waiting for this training dvd..cheers..and thanx again

RAMIMATOR

[3DQUAKERS]

Who dismissed rigging in XSI ? I just want a few bugs ironed out.

It goes without saying that all my rigging/animation is done in Add mode. Doing it in any other mode defiies the very logic of rigging.

I will try to finish the demo this weekend guys. And thanks for not turning this into a mindless debate.

[Sbowling]

Who dismissed rigging in XSI ? I just want a few bugs ironed out.

It goes without saying that all my rigging/animation is done in Add mode. Doing it in any other mode defiies the very logic of rigging.

I will try to finish the demo this weekend guys. And thanks for not turning this into a mindless debate.

Just wanted to add that I'm very eager to see the XSI version of this tutorial. The max rig looked great.

[madheavy]

Just wanted to add that I'm very eager to see the XSI version of this tutorial. The max rig looked great.

I second that. I am not a rigger (I'm not smart enough to figure it out..SBT) so I stand on the shoulders of genius' and use their rigs....

The ones that come with XSI are nice to start learning animation with, but I'm looking forward to the PRO RIGGING training volume so that I can do more complex human/cartoon motions with my characters!

SO GET GOING ON THAT DEMO VIDEO FOR US!!

Good luck SBOWLING with your rigging!

[3DQUAKERS]

Working on it guys...won't be long now :)

[RayenD]

Rigging in XSI, except at the very basic level, requires a lot of work and workarounds.
XSI generates a lot of dependency loops and rotation instabilities. I think that Softimage really need to address these issues for future releases.


Really? I didn't notice anything show stopping, even after making over hundred different rigs (half of them procedural though, but I don't count clones ;) ) I made in XSI (not to mention Softimage 3D). Maybe my rigs were too basic.

I'd rather say that rigging in XSI is very newbie friendly with all those shadow bones, effectors etc.. built it.

Looking forward to your DVD.

[CGTalk Moderation]

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.