custom shapes for multiple controls

posted to: Rigging a Dog

Can I use one custom shape for all controls?

Say I make a circle for a custom control shape. I'd like to apply that circle to all four legs, and the rib cage, lumbar, sacrum and head. I apply that circle to all.

Now I want to rotate, scale and move those controls. If I do it in armature edit mode, I'm transforming the bone, which I don't want to do. If I do it in WGT_circle edit mode, it changes for all of them. 

At best, I can use this circle instance for two mirrored legs. Then I have to make another for the back legs. Then another for the head, and each spine bone. That way the control fits properly around each section of the mesh. But I have basically a custom control shape for each bone that isn't mirrored. Is this the best way to do it?

Thanks. 

Blender 2.8.0

  • Kent Trammell replied

    CC'ing our resident rigging expert: @waylow 

  • Wayne Dixon replied

    I actually answered this question yesterday but something went wrong and the answer never got posted.


    The best thing to do is to have 1 shape for each control, have those shapes match the orientation of the bones, and match it easily editable.


    Luckily there's an add-on that makes this process A LOT less mind bending.

    This is an add-on that I I have updated from Christophe Suex's 2.7x version.  I haven't finished ironing out all the bugs but it is usable.

    https://github.com/waylow/boneWidget

    Here's the 2.7 explanation : https://vimeo.com/184159913

    That should be enough to get you going.