Intro to Rigging (Adobe Character Animator)

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of rigging a character from scratch in Adobe Character Animator. Rigging involves adding animation information to your artwork, which can be created in Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. By the end of this guide, you'll be equipped with the skills to set up your character's artwork and implement various rigging techniques.

Step 1: Choose Your Artwork Software

• Decide between Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator for creating your character.
• Consider your preferred style and the specific features each software offers.

Step 2: Set Up Your Artwork File

• Create a new file in your chosen software.
• Design separate layers for each body part (head, body, arms, legs).
• Use clear naming conventions for layers to facilitate rigging later.

Step 3: Import Your Character into Character Animator

• Open Adobe Character Animator and create a new project.
• Go to File > Import and select your PSD or AI file.
• Ensure that the layers are imported correctly.

Step 4: Understand Rigging Basics

• Switch to Rig mode in Character Animator.
• Familiarize yourself with the interface and available tools.
• Learn about the concept of handles, which allow for natural movement of limbs.

Step 5: Create the Head Rig

• Select the head layer.
• Add tags by right-clicking on the layer and choosing “Add Tags” to specify it as a head.
• Create handles for the head to control rotation and movement.

Step 6: Rig the Body

• Select the body layer.
• Use handles to allow movement at the torso.
• Ensure the body layer is tagged appropriately for rigging.

Step 7: Arm Rigging

• Select the arm layers one at a time.
• Add tags for left and right arms.
• Create handles at joints (shoulders, elbows) to enable movement.

Step 8: Eye Rigging

• Select the eye layers.
• Add eye tags to enable eye movement and blinking.
• Create handles for eye rotation.

Step 9: Mouth Rigging

• Create a separate layer for each mouth shape needed for lip-syncing.
• Tag the mouth layers to link them to the character's audio input.
• Set up the rigging to allow for smooth transitions between mouth shapes.

Step 10: Customize Behaviors

• Explore the behaviors panel and customize your character's actions.
• Add triggers for specific animations, such as waving or jumping.

Step 11: Implement Inverse Kinematics

• Use inverse kinematics to create natural movement in the character.
• Ensure that arm movements are fluid by connecting them at the shoulder and elbow.

Step 12: Set Up Triggers

• Define triggers for various actions using keyboard shortcuts.
• Test the triggers to ensure they work as intended.

Conclusion

You have now rigged a character in Adobe Character Animator, ready for animation! Remember to experiment with different behaviors and triggers to enhance your character's performance. As you grow more comfortable with rigging, try creating more complex characters and explore additional features in Character Animator. Happy animating!