Mr.Setup
is a script that is an all in one Character setup tool.
Users may open up a geometry file, place joints and
let Mr.Setup do all the tedious work of setting up for
you!
Mr.Setup is designed to take any sized character and set
him up with controls for everything from spine to limbs to
finger tips.
Before running this script. Take your character's gemetry
file and make sure that your geometry is clean and ready for
setup. Delete all history on your gemetery and leave all geo
nodes at the top level. Mr.Setup will take care of grouping
everything up. Then go File ->Optimize Scene Size to make
sure that there are no unwanted node and our geo file is completely
clean. Save out your geo file. Now we're ready for rigging!
Simply download the script, unrar, then put the MrSetup folder
in:
C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents\maya\scripts
or anywhere in your scripts folder. Then in your command prompt
in Maya type:
source "C:/Documents and Settings/Owner/My Documents/maya/scripts/MrSetup/WZA_Mr.Setup.mel
This should run the script and open up the first window that
looks like this:
CHARACTER TAB:
In the given character name, give your character a name. Mike,
Joe or Jim will do. Next hit "CREATE". Now we're
given a stick figure to fit as close as possilbe to your character.
It shouldn't matter if your character is in an A pose or even
posed symetrically. To fit the stick figure to the size of
your character simply type in any given amount to the scale
field and hit update scale. This may take a few time to get
just right.
Once correct character size has been established, hit FINALIZE
SCALE to set it.
This will permanetly set your character size and scale future
controls to customly fit your character.
Now lets move to the next tab.
SPINE TAB:
The spine tab is simple as 1, 2, 3. First click"1.Create
Targets". This will lay out your character's spine targets.
They are simple target of where joints wil go and simply translate
them into place. They are aligned to give you a better idea
how the joints will align. Go from the botom of the spine
all the way up to the top of the character's head.
Once all targets are in place, click "2.Create Joints".
This will automatically place joints to where you placed your
targets and align them all up correctly. Easy Nuff.
Now, finally hit "3.Create Rig". This will automatically
take your joint and create a rig for them! This is a standard
automatic FK spine rig. Simple to use and simple to maintain.
Now we're ready for arms.
ARM TAB:
Ok, now we're ready to begin setting up our arms. By default,
the left side will be named "Lf" and the right side will be
named "Rt", and also by default we will be mirroring the left
to the right side. Individual arms and custom side names may
be used.
Translate target movers in arm
Simply click the "1.Create Targets" button. This will generate
a series of purple targets for our character. Simply translate
them into place. "LfShoulderTarget" will go where the left
shoulder should be, "LfElbowTarget" will go where the left
elbow should be, and so on and so forth. It should not matter
if you have modeled your character in a "T pose" or an "A
pose". The script will compensate for any change in the arms.
Once all targets are in correct position, go ahead and click
the "2.Create Joints" button. This will delete the targets
and place joints in their place. As long as the mirror checkbox
is checked, it will create joints for both sides. This script
will also automatically align joints for you.
Now we've go our joints, click "3.Create Rig". This will
automatically creat setup for FK/IK arms. By default it will
be set to FK and the controls for FK/IK may be turned on and
off on the DISPLAY above the character head. You may also
switch between FK/IK arms and that setting on the DISPLAY
may be keyed as well.
LEG TAB:
The leg tab is very similar to the arm tab. Much of setting
up is automated. Like the arm tab, the tab is set by default
to mirror left to right side and the left side will be called
"Lf". To start it off, just click "1.Create Targets". Like
before this will create targets for your character's legs.
Again, like the Arm tab, as long as the Mirror checkbox is
checked, both the left and right side will be created and
aligned correctly for you.
Next click "3.Create Rig". FK/IK leg rig settup will now
be created. Again, the controls for displaying and switching
is in the DISPLAY over the characters head. Legs are set to
IK as default.
FINGER TAB:
Mr.Setup is built to build a finger rig for any number of
fingers. Simply check or uncheck necessary fingers. Again,
as long as the mirror checkbox is checked, it'll create fingers
for both the left and rightside.
Simply click "1.Create Targets" and finger targets will
be created. It can be a little time consuming setting all
the fingers in their correct position. All tagets are aligned
to show you how your bones will be aligned. Targets are colored
blue and purple so that their easier to select. Simply translate
into place.
Now that all of your targets are in place, click "2.Create
Joints". This will go ahead and create all of your finger
joints and then align them, all automatically.
Finally, click "3.Create Rig". This will setup all of your
finger joints to move with your character's arms. The controls
that are setup may be accessed by the yellow mitten around
the characters hand. Simply select the yellow mitten, and
adjust controls in the channel box.
FOOT TAB:
The foot tab is very simple and easy to use. Like previous
tabs, there is the naming option and mirror option.
Click "1.Create Targets" and then place where you want the
ball of the foot, heel of the foot and toe of the foot to
be. Next click "2.Create Joints". Bones will be created and
aligned properly. Finally click "3.Create Rig". this finally
sets up your toe pivot, ball pivot and controls for your foot
all that are accessable though the leg IK controler. FK controls
are available as well.
TWIST JOINTS :
Limbs are much use without being able to twist them.
All you have to do is right click in the area space to specify which area you would like to add a twist joint and Mr.Setup will automatically fill in the appriate fields. For custom areas, you may select your own areas. Next, specify how many twist joints you would like to add. Then click, "1. Create Twist Joint". Bones will automatically be created and aligned appriately. Next click "2. Create Twist Setup". Now you should have perfectly twisting joints.
Voila! We have a standard character setup!!
UTILITY TAB:
Under the Utility tab, we can select all skin
joints by simply clicking the "Select Skin Joints" button,
then selecting your geometery and applying a smooth bind.
l you have to do is skin it up on your own and you're ready
for animation! There is also a button, "Reset All Controls"
that sets your character back to default pose that can be
used at any time.
I hope you enjoy using Mr.Setup! If you have any comments, questions, concerns, and/or would like to be notified of upcoming updates, contact
me though my website at http://www.waderyer.com/contact/
