connect a set of bones (arm) to another set of bones (body)

[rafdesign]

So I created an arm, with different bones, quite complex. I saved that arm as a Moho object. Now in my main template, I am also having a set of bones for the body and the head. Now I import the arm moho, and I am trying to connect the bones of the arm to the body, but it doesn't work... I don't undertstand why it doesn't let me do it.

[kasjorg]

Did you put the imported layer inside the bones layer you wish to attach to? I use switch layers with bones , put them all inside a bones layer with a main skeleton and use the attach layer function -works like a charm!

Kasper

[rafdesign]

I am not sure to understand. But here are few more details of what I've done. I just have different moho document, ready to be animated, all bones rigged, such like a leg, or arm. Due to the complexity I prefer to keep separate bones. But now that I want to import those moho arms or legs into my new comp, I don't know how to connect those 'bones set' to another part (body). I am new to moho maybe your answer is the solution but I don't get it right.

[kasjorg]

If you want the bones to work as a whole you should really create the skeleton under one bones layer. But if you want to import -lets say an arm and attach it to a body in another file, you import the arm then the bones layer of the arm will be somewhere in the layers window. You have to open the bones folder of the body and drop the arm folder inside. Then you select the arm folder - klick the attach layer button in the bone tool box and select a bone in the body you want the arm to follow. Now the arm layer will follow the selected bone and you can select the arm bones layer and move the bones in the arm as you wanted. Hope it makes sense!

[Jus_Me]

I make my bones seperately too, But when i add a new bone for like an arm, I go back to the same bone layer, And add the new bone, And reparent it.
I never tried to export an arm after i was done tho, I would just hide the layers visibility and go on to the next body part.

[rafdesign]

Hello Kasper,
I read carefully what you are describing and actually that was what I already tried!! It just doesn't work. It really drives me nuts! I am using the mac os X, maybe there is a bug on Mac? I've uploaded a simple test on my ftp:
http://www.rafaelmacho.com/anonymous

If you have 2 minutes to check it... I would be very thankful.
What I am thinking to do is to create elements such as arm, legs, etc and create a database later. So I really need this to work. Thanks!

[Rasheed]

Perhaps these screenshots shed some light on the mystery.

You will need a bone for each bone layer. This means that a bone in the main bone layer is used to layer-bind a bone sub-layer (a child layer of the main bone layer).

In this case the bone that was used to bind the arm sub-layer is at the same position and has the same size and length as the root bone of the arm sub-layer. IOW the arm bone in the main skeleton coincides with the root bone of the arm sub-layer, although both bones are in different bone layers.

The difference isn't visible in frame zero (using the offset bones tool), but in frame 6 I have manipulated the arms in the arm sub-layers more than the arm bones in the main skeleton, so you can see clearly, that here I have used the arm bones in the main skeleton mostly to put the arms in the correct position (for design purposes—using the Offset bones tool— not to manipulate the arms).

The layers are set up like this (left and right are from an anatomical perspective—as it should be— not left and right on the screen)


I hope this clarifies things a little.

[Nolan Scott]

Hope you don’t mind that I had a look at your file as well.

As “kasjorg” has already explained the “fairly complex technique”
of different imported Bone-Layers -
and “Rasheeds” excellent visual explanation should give you
a very good base of understanding.

Anyway - if you like you can download your file “bones_test.moho” here:


File has been taken off.

Cheers
Nolan

[rafdesign]

I think I understand why it didn't worked well in my earlier tests: there is no visual arrow to link one set of bones (arm) to the main skeleton. Mmh.. it would be great to see an arrow. Unless that's a bug in Mac OS X.
Thank you all for your help.

[kasjorg]

I took a look at your file ,attached the armslayers to the shoulder bones and it works great. I don´t really know what you mean by "arrow" !! When you use the attach layer tool you klick the shoulder bone and it turns red when attached.
You can take a look at your file and here and see if this is what you are looking for.

http://62.242.139.202/moho/

[kasjorg]

Ahh mabye I now understand what you mean about arrows. You are trying to use the reparent bone tool, -that will only work when the bones are in the same layer. The tool I used is the bind layer tool ,- the one in the bottom left corner in the bones tool box. -Try that

[A[\]dy]

This is what you mean by arrows?

[rafdesign]

i was looking for the red arrow but you are righ, I was doinbg wrong. Thx!

[rafdesign]

i was looking for the red arrow but you are righ, I was doinbg wrong. Thx!