binding image layer to multiple bones?

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katz
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:16 pm

binding image layer to multiple bones?

Post by katz »

hello,
i have a character who is moving and playing the trumpet at the same time. the trumpet is an image layer bound to the head bone.
as the character is holding the trumpet in the hand it should also be bound to the trumpet. so when i animate the character, the arm should be able to move with the body, but the hand stay attached to the trumpet, and the trumpet stay attached to the head. it is a very long arm (like a tentacle) with many bones.
i hope i made clear what the problem is... how do i attach both hand bone and head bone to the trumpet?
thanks a lot for any help!!
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Mikdog
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Post by Mikdog »

I don't think you can do this man.

Your best bet I think would be to attach the trumpet to the hand or the mouth, and then use the rotate tool on the trumpet to keyframe every second or fourth or if necessary every frame so that the trumpet lines up with his mouth and his hand. A mission I know.

Otherwise rig the character differently, making the head bone first, then a trumpet bone, then a hand bone, then an arm bone. Its a weird rig but then at least the trumpet will always be connected to the mouth and hand, you'll just have to make sure that the arm bone lines up with the body.

If that makes sense.
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slowtiger
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Post by slowtiger »

Just go the easy way. I once animated a bicycle rider and had to rig the legs. I started the bone chain with the pedal, then foot, leg, leg. It was much easier this way becaus ethe thigh ended in the bodyso I didn't had to be that exact.

You can do the same with this chain: head, trumpet, hand, arm, arm, ending with the shoulder. Now you only have to align the shoulder to the body which is much easier than aligning trumpet to mouth or hand.
katz
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:16 pm

Post by katz »

thanks a lot to both of you for your fast reply!!!
sounds like a good idea, i have to go now, but i´ll try tomorrow!
katz
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:16 pm

Post by katz »

thanks, it works really well & easy this way! i only just discovered this forum, its great!
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