Tutorial: Rigging & Creating Movement Part 1

Now that you have your model created, we will rig it and make it move. At the end we will make the character walk from point A to point B. For this tutorial, it is best if you use the model that we made before, or one similar to it. I will be using a model that I made from the previous tutorial. Once you are done with rigging, animate your figure in Part 2 of the tutorial.


Tools:
3D Studio Max

Steps:

1. Create->Systems-> Biped, and now position the mouse so it is at the base of your model Press click and drag the mouse so that the biped system is the same height of the model.


2. Using the rotating tool, position the biped so that it is in proper alignment with the model. Do not forget to look at the Top view to verify that the biped is centered in the model.


3. Using the transform tool and working your way up, enlarge and decrease the biped bones so that it is as similar to the model as possible.


3. Now select the model, and click the MODIFY tab. Select within the drop down menu, PHYSIQUE.


4.Next click on Attach to Node
5. Select the Node in the center of the biped system. The Node is the blue diamond in the middle of the torso. Afterwards a window titled, Physique Initialization will popup. I have never ran into a situation where the default settings weren't adequate, so click initialize.


6. Now deselect the model completely and just as an experiment click on one of shoulders and rotate it. Do not do too many things here, because we are just testing out the joints, and we want to hit undo, so we get back to step 6. Notice the entire arm is now moving. However the hands are not as are the feet.


7. To correct this select the mesh and under PHYSIQUE, select vertex.
8. Now highlight the vertexes on the hand and then ASSIGN to Link, and select the link (in yellow) that marks the hand. Repeat this for the other hand and feet. If you want to make sure every vertex is assigned to a respective link, then do this for every link on the body. Be warned that some vertexes can and will be assigned to two different links especially in the hip area. However some if not must should only be assigned to one.


Now you are done rigging your model. In the next tutorial we will make it move. Now would be a good time to get those biped unreal tournament files that I discussed earlier. In the mean time move your model's joints and perfect the model.