Moho Forum

Hi ALL
I have been trying to figure out how to have a character pick up or down an object.
I actually have done it in a cartoon I just posted to "SHARE YOUR WORK" part of the forum, BUT there's got to be a better, easier way.
My character in the video has a cigarette in his mouth and then he throws it away.
How I did it basically is like this. I have the cigarette in a switch layer inside the character head layer. And, I have a copy of the cigarette in another switch layer outside of the character layer.
when he grabs it to throw it, I frame by frame animated this up to the point where its leaving his hand.
then, Using the 2 switch layers I switch to the cigarette that not a part of the character layer and continue to animate it going away from him and hits the sidewalk.
If I just tried to leave it on the character layer it continues to follow along with the character as walks away..

So, my question is. Is there an easier way to do this?
I have tried to use layer ordering and just move the cigarette layer at that moment it leaves his hand. It doesn't work...
Here's the video to watch, if it helps to understand the question. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE3UyjSoosA

Thanks for any advice or help.

Hammerjammer

What you did, using two copies of the same object is probably the best way. I wouldn't use switch layers, no need, and to make it easier use bones. Both copies of your object should be inside the character bone layer so you can bind one of them to the hand and one to another bone that gets "thrown".

Watch the video I did in this topic to see the process. This one is specifically for someone holding a sign with two hands but the basic idea works for holding and throwing any object.

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=22888&hilit=placard

heyvern wrote:What you did, using two copies of the same object is probably the best way. I wouldn't use switch layers, no need, and to make it easier use bones. Both copies of your object should be inside the character bone layer so you can bind one of them to the hand and one to another bone that gets "thrown".

Watch the video I did in this topic to see the process. This one is specifically for someone holding a sign with two hands but the basic idea works for holding and throwing any object.

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=22888&hilit=placard

Hello again Vern
I thought I might have been on the right track with this one. Other than the bones, I was basically doing the same thing. Instead of turning on and off the visibility. I used switch layers. The bones are a good idea though because it gives you way more control. No need for that frame by frame stuff I did either.

Thanks Vern
Hammerjammer