Holding a placard

[exile]

My character holds up a sign mounted on sticks. The sign is in front of the character, but the character's hands need to be in front of the sticks so it looks like he is holding it. I put copies of the character's hands into the sign with a switch layer - one with hands and the other without (the character throws the sign away during the sequence).

So far, so good. If very closely tracked with a lot of key frames, the hands on the sticks don't fly away from the character holding the sign. I just wonder if there is a better way to do it without the constant risk of that happening. It would be murder to change the timing or the paths.

[heyvern]

Here's a technique I use. Was trying to describe it and realized it is easier to just do a screen cast.

It's still processing and Youtube seems to be doing maintenance so if the video doesn't play right away check back againlater.


Let me know if this helps or if it doesn't make sense.

-vern

[exile]

I could see most of the video, then there was a "try again later" notice. Thanks a lot for going to all that trouble, Vern, I'll have to watch it again tomorrow to get all the details and will apply it to my file asap. But I'm pretty sure it's going to work, makes a lot of sense. I'm sure enmeshed objects are a common problem, nice to get a convincing solution.

[exile]

Hi Vern,
I can't figure out what my problem is. As soon as I pull the sign layer into the skeleton of the character, and activate the manipulate bones tool (or just move to frame 1), the sign gets pulled completely out of shape. How can I keep it from being influenced by the bones of the character? It's set to region binding, and bone strength is moderate. Even if I give the sign its own bone, unconnected to any other, it still gets totally distorted. I don't mind starting over, but I'm not sure what to change.

[heyvern]

After dragging the sign into the character bone group, you need create a NEW sign bone and either:

Bind the layer to the sign bone
or
Bind the POINTS to the sign bone

You can't just put a bone for the sign near the sign and hope it will control it. The sign will still get pushed and pulled by other bones.
Since the sign shouldn't "deform" anyway, just bind the sign layer or the sign points to a new "sign bone".

-vern

[exile]

Vern, thanks for your patience - that wasn't the problem. I noticed it worked ok with one unconnected bone in the sign given a great bone strength, which didn't cause the character any problem, surprisingly. If the sign bone is connected to the character, that causes all sorts of problems, at least with my rig. But at least I'm able to put a lot of what you showed me into practice, and that's a big step forward. I'll keep you posted