Left arm right leg... uh... my left or your left?

[heyvern]

When naming body parts what is the consensus here? Do you name the left arm that is the character's left arm? Or the left arm as you look at the character (which would actually be its right arm).

I only ask because I get confused and do it differently each time... I was curious and wonder if anyone else has this "problem".

-vern

[rylleman]

Yes, it can be confusing at times but I think the easiest way is to use the characters directions, right arm is right arm.
If you choose your directions the naming can get confusing, how about a turning character? First facing you his right is left, then he turns around and now his right is right. How do you name his limbs?
But I think that the most important thing is to choose one way and then stick to that.
Then when it comes to directions I always use my point of view, a character facing me "walks right offscreen"; walks to his left but out to the right side of the sceen.

[artfx]

It may because of my time spent doing 3D but I always use the character's left or right.

[Rhoel]

For me, character always ... inherited from 3D.

Now if you want to start something, try the old discussion of "is a pan left or right?" ie, Is it camera left or artwork right.

Rhoel lights the blue-touch paper and runs away.

[Genete]

A good question. Altough I've not thought much about it due to I'm so new to animation. My first "long" animation and the on going recent one is being called left or right from my point of view.

I opine like rylleman: it does not matter if you are consistent and do the same for every thing. You should not call left to the character's right leg (for example) if when it is pointing rigth from your point of view you call it "pointing left".

Genete

[heyvern]

Usually I use the character's point of view...

but when I'm ordering layers or naming shapes I get mixed up and will use the wrong one. So I might have a left bicep with a matching misnamed right forearm... imagine the confusion and hilarity that ensues when I delete or move the wrong layer.

"Right foot on blue!"
"My right or yours?"
"Uh... I don't know... the spinner doesn't say."
"So, either one then?"
"Yeah I guess so."
"Stupid game."

-vern

[Rasheed]

Always my character's point of view. I did some biology anatomy classes at the university a long time ago, and this was drilled into my brain. And it wouldn't be the first time an overworked and tired surgeon amputated the wrong body part (now, was it left for me, or left for him...) To err is to be human

[slowtiger]

He made it right and amputated what was left ...

[jahnocli]

There was nothing left when he amputated, right?

[Rasheed]

[LittleFenris]

It may because of my time spent doing 3D but I always use the character's left or right.

Probably where I got my naming conventions as well. Yay Lightwave! I actually recognized your username from CGTalk and the Newtek forums when I used Lightwave a lot more than I do now. I actually even bought your 3D anime DVD from Amazon.

[artfx]

Wow! Thanks for the support! I don't use Lightwave as much anymore either, but it still pops up now and then. I defintiely think my Lightwave experience has made Anime Studio much much easier for me.

[LittleFenris]

Wow! Thanks for the support! I don't use Lightwave as much anymore either, but it still pops up now and then. I defintiely think my Lightwave experience has made Anime Studio much much easier for me.

Without Lightwave I would have no clue how to use Bones in AS, but since I have a few years of twiddling in Lightwave, I know exactly what Bones are for and a much better idea of how to set a rig up properly. At least all that time spent in 3D helped me with something!