IK solutions?

It might seem that way but we’re not, <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –> it’s just that we have been where you are now with your 3D modelling.
It’s a steep learning curve, so just keep asking the questions, that’s the quickest way to learn.

To start your 3D modelling with skeletal animation is a bit like jumping in at the deep end.
To then enter a competition were many of the operations you would normally use are ‘out of bounds’, so to speak, makes the deep end even deeper. <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –>

Stick with it though and you will learn a lot along the way.

I hope you are keeping a back-up copy of your model, just in case things go completly wrong.

The way I do figures is:-

1) Build the model. (obvious)

2) Do a test animation. (say walking)

3) Make any corrections you think are needed to the model.

4) Keep repeating steps 2 and 3 untill you are happy with the animation.

5) Unwrap the figure and do the artwork.

Also it’s a lot easier if you build the model as a figure wearing clothes. You model the shape of the clothes rather than the human shape.
A jacket for instance would be much easier to model than a human torso.

Plus the crimping you were trying to get rid of would be just about right if the figure was wearing some kind of coat. Bend your arm and see what happens to your sleeve. <!– s:D –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!– s:D –>

Bazza

I have a single object character to which I’ve added IK Bones. I’m having a little trouble maintaining skin geometry the way I’d like, such as when I bend the model’s limbs, I get crimping at the inside of the joint (as shown below). Is there a way to avoid this kind of distortion?
[img:snh0bco1]http&#58;//img78&#46;photobucket&#46;com/albums/v237/renogang/crook&#46;jpg[/img:snh0bco1]

Any chance of a screenshot with SOLID OUTLINE turned on?

It looks as though all you need to do is to increase the number of faces around the joint.

Also try adjusting the Skeletal Bone Range.
It could be the fore-arm bone is affecting the upper arm when its bent.

Bazza

I don’t know if this is any help, but here’s a shot of my first attempt at a boned animation, showing the skeletal bone range.

You can get three of these figures in the Model download section, all with a walking skeletal animation, maybe this might help.

Bazza

You could try changing the bone weighting. Just double-click the surrounding bones and change the weight.

In the attached picture the image on the left is 100% weighting for each bone and the picture on the right is 0% weighting for each bone.

Richard

ok, that helped. There is still a little crimping, but within acceptable limits.
Here I have the weighting set to zero on both bones involved, this time in flat outline. I’m finding that there is quite a bit of finesse involved in the placement of extents, overlaps, and such.
Thank you Richard, that appears to be the solution. Thank you Bazza, I may try adding some edges to see if that improves the results.
[img:1sbg65yh]http&#58;//img78&#46;photobucket&#46;com/albums/v237/renogang/crook2&#46;jpg[/img:1sbg65yh]

um… next question….
once the bones are in place and the object is assigned as skin, I can no longer add more edgese (in this case I might have put some additional edges in the elbow area).

Is there a way to regain access to the object for editing after it has been assigned as skin, beyond yanking the entire skeleton and moving the hierarchy out of the bones parent? (this took a lot of time, hoping there is a quick and easy way. This is my ‘contest’ character from a cube project)

Yes. <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –>

First turn off ‘Visible Bones’ in the top toolbar.

Second select the figure.

Third select ‘Enable/Disable Bones for skin’
in the right hand toolbar.

Reverse this process to get back to where you where in the first place. <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –>

Bazza

just in case…

wow! Thank you! You guys are fantastic!!
<!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –>