Rig it Right! Maya Animation Rigging Concepts

11

Spines: FK, Spline, SDK (Set Driven Key)

Chapter Example Files:

chpt11_Marv_bird_RIG_v5.mb;

chpt11_Marv_ bird_RIG_v6_FK_Back.mb;

chpt11_Marv_bird_RIG_v7_SDK_Back.mb;

chpt11_Marv_bird_RIG_v8_Spline_Back.mb;

chpt11_Marv_bird_RIG_v9.mb;

chpt11_Marv_bird_RIG_v10.mb

FK Spine

Open chpt11_Marv_bird_RIG_v5.mb. Well, here is an interesting thing in the bird rig—it barely has a spine. It has two spine joints and a super long neck. The neck in this case will be rigged pretty much like a human spine. First, let’s look at the functionality of this long straight group of joints. If you select them individually and rotate them in Z the character rotates nicely forward and nicely back. You have to select each one so that they can each individually rotate ...