Tips and Tutorials:

Smart Blinks - Based on the "Sum of 10 Blinks" idea presented in the SIGGRAPH 2007 Surf's Up Course. Finally, rigging the eylids gets some attention! 10/25/07
JTDdynParentUI.mel

Description: JTDdynParent allows the user to animate a child switching between multiple parents. This is useful for setting up rig controls that can switch inheritance between body parts or give characters the ability to easily pick up and put down objects. This version is a complete rewrite of the old tool built into JTDRiggingTools Beta 0.17 and is released here as a standalone tool until it comes packaged in the up-and-coming new JTDriggingTools 1.0.
Features: Can be used with referencing and now has the ability to change the alias names of parent objects
Note: v1.0 released 11/23/07 Tested with Maya 8.5 - not compatible with the dynamic parenting built into JTDRiggingTools Beta 0.17

Description: A modular Biped auto-rigging suite designed for students
Features: Elbow/knee pinning, IK/FK matching, dynamic parenting, stretchy and bendable limbs, stable forearm twisting and more...
Note: v0.17 released on 7/15/07
Scripts still un-polished. Not compatible with Maya on the Macintosh
Credits: Some techniques inspired by Jason Schliefer, Hamish McKenzie, Michael Comet and Aaron Holly - all true geniuses

JTD Rigging Tools Demo Videos
 Placement Skeleton.ma
Oriented Skeleton.ma
Example Rig.ma

1. Installation 7MB
2. Orienting joints (very important) 19MB
3. Rig Spine 6MB, Neck 4MB, Arm 6MB, Leg 4MB, Fingers 9MB
4. Working with dynamic parenting 4MB
5. Attaching and Detaching the rig 3MB
6. Moving and resizing controlers
7. Troubleshooting/Common problems (.txt)
Note: To keep file size low, videos require WMV codec

AndyRig_v1.4.zip
changeLog.txt

 

 


   Description: A free generic character animation rig made for SCAD students and Alias Maya - created with JTDRiggingTools
Note: v1.4 Released 07/21/07 Tested with Maya 8.5
Credits: Design by Craig Scheuermann, Models and Rig by John Doublestein, Textures by Ying-Chih Chen, Some techniques inspired by Jason Schliefer, Hamish McKenzie, Michael Comet and Aaron Holly, Thanks guys!
Feedback Thanks to: Zach Parrish, Lindsey Butterworth, Cheryl Cabrera, Jason Maurer, Mike Yoo
AndyRigMotionBuilder.zip
Description: The Andy rig - stripped down for use in Motionbuilder and Maya (only fingers and facial controls)
Note: apply animation to AndyCharacterized.fbx in motionBuilder, plot the animation to the skeleton and export. Import into Maya and do an Exclusive Merge back onto AndyRigMergeMaya_v1.0.ma, then key fingers and facial
Credits: Design by Craig Scheuermann, Models and Rig by John Doublestein, Textures by Ying-Chih Chen
 
Note: all rigs and scripts provided for use at your own risk, feedback is appreciated and often implemented