Smart bone Dials / possible masking issue

[hammerjammer]

Hello All,

OK, Lets see if I can explain this. (SIDE NOTE-- Every time I start to think I know what I'm doing, POW a punch to the eye. Very frustrating.)

I was messing around with this semi rigged Minion character that I've traced from internet.
I'm trying to use SMART BONES Dials (I think that's what they are called) to move the pupils left or right and eventually head turns and blaw blaw blaw, you get the point. I want to do this instead of BLEND MORPHS because I think I will have better control of Key frames and what not. Ok, I have used Smart bones before without a problem, and as of this project, This is my first time using masking on the whites of the eyes and the pupils and stuff, so that the pupils wont stray outside of the characters eyes. So, to get to the point.
The very first thing I was trying to do is use a Smart bones DIAL (named = Look Left) to move his pupils, which is inside of a group layer named "Eyes" so that I could do the masking I spoke of on them. But, when I click on the Pupils layer to move the points to create the action, it doesn't work. After A lot of digging and scratching to figure out why, I think it has something to do with the "Eyes" group layer or the masking of it.
I probably will have the same issue with the mouth layer because it too is a group layer with masking. I couldn't figure out a work around for this. I've tried to take the 3 layers of my "Eyes" group layer OUT of the group layer, but then all of the masking for the Eyes are messed up.

What I'm I missing?

If it helps. Here is the file I'm working on. (Still needs a bunch of work, Its in its early stages.)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uu1rzfqi3rvtt ... DIALS.anme

Thanks for any help.
Hammerjammer

[hammerjammer]

Hello All,

OK, Lets see if I can explain this. (SIDE NOTE-- Every time I start to think I know what I'm doing, POW a punch to the eye. Very frustrating.)

I was messing around with this semi rigged Minion character that I've traced from internet.
I'm trying to use SMART BONES Dials (I think that's what they are called) to move the pupils left or right and eventually head turns and blaw blaw blaw, you get the point. I want to do this instead of BLEND MORPHS because I think I will have better control of Key frames and what not. Ok, I have used Smart bones before without a problem, and as of this project, This is my first time using masking on the whites of the eyes and the pupils and stuff, so that the pupils wont stray outside of the characters eyes. So, to get to the point.
The very first thing I was trying to do is use a Smart bones DIAL (named = Look Left) to move his pupils, which is inside of a group layer named "Eyes" so that I could do the masking I spoke of on them. But, when I click on the Pupils layer to move the points to create the action, it doesn't work. After A lot of digging and scratching to figure out why, I think it has something to do with the "Eyes" group layer or the masking of it.
I probably will have the same issue with the mouth layer because it too is a group layer with masking. I couldn't figure out a work around for this. I've tried to take the 3 layers of my "Eyes" group layer OUT of the group layer, but then all of the masking for the Eyes are messed up.

What I'm I missing?

If it helps. Here is the file I'm working on. (Still needs a bunch of work, Its in its early stages.)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uu1rzfqi3rvtt ... DIALS.anme

Thanks for any help.
Hammerjammer

NEVER MIND, I Figured it out...
Stop the presses, or your typing.
I figured out that you must mask the bone layer. NO sub group layers. Then just mask or unmask each layer depending on what you trying to do.
In my case that is, mask only the eye & mouth layers. OOOOOOOooooohhhh YYYYyyyyaaaaaaaa baby. I knew I was on the right track.

Here is the corrected file.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4pcpynqrj92kw ... fixed.anme


Later
Hammerjammer

[heyvern]

Woohoo!
I am glad you are happy! Often when people discover that something "doesn't work" they get annoyed at the limitation instead of happy they found the solution. It's the glass half full or glass half empty choice. I tend to be a "glass half full or... it's a freaking drought and we will all die because the glass is half empty!" person. it depends on my mood.

Alternate Method (no masking required)

There is a way to do this without masking. Put the eyes and mouth elements UNDER the face/body. When creating the body shape, include the eye/mouth "holes" in the body shape. With the mouth stuff under the body they are "covered" by the body shape, and show through the "hole" in the shape. You still have to make sure that the elements don't go "past" or outside the body shape since there is no mask, but that shouldn't be a problem with this type of character design.

Of course body turns can be challenging either way you choose, with or without masking. The character design does look like a body turn could be done without a ton of trouble though.

[hammerjammer]

Woohoo!
I am glad you are happy! Often when people discover that something "doesn't work" they get annoyed at the limitation instead of happy they found the solution. It's the glass half full or glass half empty choice. I tend to be a "glass half full or... it's a freaking drought and we will all die because the glass is half empty!" person. it depends on my mood.

Alternate Method (no masking required)

There is a way to do this without masking. Put the eyes and mouth elements UNDER the face/body. When creating the body shape, include the eye/mouth "holes" in the body shape. With the mouth stuff under the body they are "covered" by the body shape, and show through the "hole" in the shape. You still have to make sure that the elements don't go "past" or outside the body shape since there is no mask, but that shouldn't be a problem with this type of character design.

Of course body turns can be challenging either way you choose, with or without masking. The character design does look like a body turn could be done without a ton of trouble though.

Heyvern, hello again Sir

I know you didn't mean to, But you just kicked my happiness in the teeth.
I never gave a thought to putting the eyes and mouth elements UNDER the face/body by putting "holes" in the body shape. I knew about this, just didn't think of it. So, yes I made it more complicated than it had to be. I didn't need to use masking. Oh well, you know what they say, you live and learn. Figuring that out still felt/feels pretty darn good. How's that, for the glass half full kind of guy? I enjoy figuring this stuff out. Its very frustrating sometime. But I like it.
ON A SIDE NOTE ---> Masking is tricky little bugger though.

As for doing a body turn, I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet. Baby steps, you know what I mean?
To borrow a line from the stop motion movie "Santa Claus is coming to town". "Put One foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking through the door"... Or something like that.
I Guess depending on what part of the world you live in, You may or may not have a clue what the hell I'm talking about.

Anyway. Have a nice day Sir

Hammerjammer

[heyvern]

To borrow a line from the stop motion movie "Santa Claus is coming to town". "Put One foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking through the door"... Or something like that.
I Guess depending on what part of the world you live in, You may or may not have a clue what the hell I'm talking about.

Woohoo! I grew up with that Christmas special. I have it on DVD now and watch it every year. It's my favorite, second only to the original Rudolph from Rankin & Bass.

"Put one smart bone in front of the other and soon you will be turning all around!"

[hammerjammer]

"Put one smart bone in front of the other and soon you will be turning all around!"

Lol! That's good stuff.

You welcome, for the childhood flashback.

Later

Hammerjammer OUT!