Properly flexi-bind in place?

[cartoonmonkey]

I'm having a devil of a time figuring out if I'm binding bones and points correctly, with my model in place.
Can anyone give me a step by step of the new "in place" rigging method using flexi binding?

Here's my source file: http://www.cartoonmonkey.com/AS/riderv2.anime

I have my character on layers, and I create my bone layer, creating my skeleton in place on frame 0.
Then I click a single bone, say the ones in the character's hat, then the layer to be bound? And select use selected bones for flexi binding.

Do I then select the points in that layer and select Menu/bone/flexi-bind points?

C

[Little Yamori]

Here's a tutorial on flexi-binding, the answer is at about the 2:30 mark.

Looks like you're doing it right, select bones, go to the layer you wish to flexi bind, go to the drop down menu and select flexi bind layer. Has that worked, but you're trying to bind other points as well?

[cartoonmonkey]

Thanks! I noticed that sometimes the artwork on other layers is still distorted slightly using this method...
Unless I'm doing it incorrectly. I think I've got it though.. maybe. :-/

[Greenlaw]

I believe layers that aren't explicitly by bound by Flexipbinding or Layer binding will be affected by any bone(s) that have a strength value. In other words, just because a selection of bones is being used for Flexi-binding doesn't mean than can't affect other layers. If you don't want an element to be affected by other bones, use the Use Selected Bones command to define exactly which bones should affect it, or use Layer Binding if you only want parenting to a specific bone but no deformation from any bones.

Also, turn the strength value of any bones that are meant to be used only as controls or placeholders to zero--you don't want them affecting the drawings.

Alternatively, you can use the Offset tool to move the element away from certain bones to minimize their effect on the element. This is an old method but sometimes it's still useful for simplifying rig layouts. (I used this method recently for a character with a super long tail and I just wanted to get the tail bones out of the way from the rest of the rig).

It might sound like a lot to remember but you'll get the hang of it. That said, I still get stumped every now and then.

G.