My Free Rigs - Blender 2.63 (and older)

Artwork Finished Projects
1

ALEX 2.63

you can download it here:
http://www.blendswap.com/blends/animals/alex-2-63/

and there is a video explanation here:

ALL THE RIGS BELOW ARE STILL ALL - I’M GETTING AROUND TO THEM
in order of newest first

CAMERA RIGS 2.59

I just updated the 2 camera rigs - a Dolly and a Crane
they are both inside the same file
Dolly is on layer 1 and the Crane is on layer 2

they are grouped and ready to be appended but make sure you also append the python file that runs the UI

all the controls are in the UI
but they are now in 3 collapsable tabs

UPDATE:
The UI Script can be installed as an add-on, this will mean you can install it and forget about it (solving the problem of having to append it seperatly)

here is a video demo on how they work:

the blend file is attached - but I cannot include the separated scripts in this version (they are inside the file that you will need to copy & past and save as a .py file)

The BlendSwap link:
http://www.blendswap.com/3D-models/tools-2/camera-rigs-2-59-3/
here is a link to the DL:

http://www.waynedixon.com.au/CameraRigs/CameraRigs2.59.zip

I have completed the update to Buck

This file is for the official 2.57b release

New Features:
No New features - just updated for new blender version

Features:

You will need to run the python script for the UI to show up

Added a world and Local IK for the arms - there is a slider that will change the parent of the IK arms to the Root or the Chest
Bone layers - now have easy clickable toggle buttons in the side panel
Visibility - you can turn body parts on/off with toggle buttons
FootRoll - removed the python script and replaced it with a python expression and drivers (there is a tutorial in one of my other videos)
Fat Drivers - The Drivers for the Fat have been changed so they work (it is not 100% exactly the same but pretty damn close)
Iris shrink - I have separated the Iris shrink so you can shrink both eyes independently

STILL DID NOT FIX:
(there is no FK legs in the original file - so there are no FK legs in this version, I might add this in the future if people ask)

Here is the file - it’s quite big because the textures are packed in the file (61MB):

http://www.waynedixon.com.au/Buck/Buck.2.57b_PACK.blend

and here is the video demo - the video doesn’t include the new feature I added (the local world IK arms) but it’s explained in the ManCandy 2.56 video (it works the same way)

Frankie 2.57b

here is an updated Frankie Rig

You will need to run the python script for the UI to show up

Features:
Added a world and Local IK for the arms - there is a slider that will change the parent of the IK arms to the Root or the Chest
Bone layers - now have easy clickable toggle buttons in the side panel
Visibility - you can turn body parts on/off with toggle buttons
FootRoll - removed the python script and replaced it with a python expression and drivers (there is a tutorial in one of my other videos)
Iris shrink - I have separated the Iris shrink so you can shrink both eyes independently

Let me know if you find any bugs

Here is the file (44MB)

http://www.waynedixon.com.au/Frankie/Frankie.2.57b_PACK.blend

here is the video demo:

http://www.vimeo.com/13665997

(it doesn’t include the World/Local IK arms and Legs)

Pedro 2.57b

Updates:
No new features - just fixed it for blender 2.57b

here is the file [1.1MB]
[ulr]http://www.waynedixon.com.au/Pedro/Pedro.2.57b.blend
here is the video tutorial:
it doesn’t include the new feature I just added

Scarlett 2.56

Here the video demo link

the rig features:
-IK/FK sliding
-bone layer visibility UI in the properties window-
-Mesh Parts Visibility UI in the properties window
-Rotate the foot to pivot from the “toe”
-scale the feet to rotate the knee

Updates:
I have updated the python file for the UI to work in 2.56
and I added a slider for the inherit rotation of her Butt (it’s easier to get a smooth transition)

You can use it for whatever you want - it is totally free
you can credit me if you want but no need
(credit as “waylow” or “Wayne Dixon”)

Here is the download

http://www.waynedixon.com.au/Scarlett/Scarlett.2.5.6.blend

It is also attached

Happy animating people.

MANCANDY 2.56

This is an updated version on the Famous ManCandy Rig by Bassam Kurdali.

He is starting from scratch with a new mesh for his next release - so I created this updated version that will make it easier to work with the old version of ManCandy in 2.5 AND you can append all your old actions from 2.49.

You should be able to append any old action from 2.49 (or earlier) to this rig and it will work - EXCEPT you will have to key the new IK Arm Sliders

I added some new features and I deleted some unnecessary items.

NEW FEATURES:
World or Local IK (the IK hands can switch between the chest parent or a root bone parent)

Features:
Bone Layers - Turn on/off bone layers with the GUI (it will appear when you select the rig)
Mesh Visibility - turn on/off mesh parts with the GUI (it will appear when you select the rig) - this uses a MaskModifier and Python
IK/FK sliding - this is also done in the GUI (it will appear when you grab any bone in the arms)

Deleted Old Features:
I deleted all the empties that controlled the Hooks (as they can now be parented to bones)
also deleted the old IK/FK slider panel

Tidy:
Parented all the bone widgts to an empty called ALL_WIDGTS - to keep the outliner tidy

Fixed:
fixed the slight misalignment of Foot.L/R and Bone Roll of Knee Stretch.R
Fixed the EyeLattice.L/R weight painting to make it even both sides.
Some bones in the neck were not centred correctly
Both thumbs could not rotate on 3 axis

Didn’t fix:
There is no FK for the Legs - as this is the way it is in the original version

THIS FILE IS FOR BLENDER 2.56

Here it is:

http://www.waynedixon.com.au/ManCandy/mancandy.2.5.6.blend

and here is a video explanation of the changes:

Attachments

CameraDollyRig.2.59.blend (58.7 KB)Scarlett.2.5.6.blend (193 KB)

2

Very nice, how about something like a chimp or some sort of primate with long arms and short legs next?

3

yeah - I was thinking of doing a gorilla but maybe I can do a chimp as well

4

Wow. Thanks, that’s a really nice rig.

I also took a look at you site. You’ve got a lot of talent.

5

@JDep

Thanks

@all

I have fixed a bug with the Feet - Thanks Randy :wink:
The links are the same

6

I liked it, your rig! You might suggest that his rig is available to all users of Blender, when you leave the version 2.6. I always liked making my own rigs, but sometimes, it is important to have some presets available rigs, it helps a lot to certain jobs. Moreover, we need to have a library of rigs, categorized within Blender …

7

Thanks very much for sharing your rig (as well as the others linked from Vimeo).

8

Wow great stuff, would love to see it on Blendswap.com.
Great work.

9

I have updated Scarlett for 2.56

http://www.waynedixon.com.au/Scarlett/Spider.png

Here the video demo link

the rig features:
-IK/FK sliding
-bone layer visibility UI in the properties window-
-Mesh Parts Visibility UI in the properties window
-Rotate the foot to pivot from the “toe”
-scale the feet to rotate the knee

Updates:
I have updated the python file for the UI to work in 2.56
and I added a slider for the inherit rotation of her Butt (it’s easier to get a smooth transition)

You can use it for whatever you want - it is totally free
you can credit me if you want but no need
(credit as “waylow” or “Wayne Dixon”)

Here is the download

http://www.waynedixon.com.au/Scarlett/Scarlett.2.5.6.blend

It is also attached

Happy animating people.

Attachments

Scarlett.2.5.6.blend (193 KB)Scarlett.2.5.2.blend (188 KB)

10

Waylow, personally I enjoy rigging, but sometimes it gets a bit tedious- do you have any tips and tricks to make the workflow smoother? Like fast ways to rename bones, duplicating rigged limbs, etc. Thanks for all your work.

11

here are a few tips:

-work with one side only, complete ALL the constraints > and then duplicate > flip names > and x axis mirror (if you duplicate and mirror too early the constraints won’t copy- but you can always delete one side and re-duplicate)

-I have not found an easy way to rename bones (except copy paste the text that will be the same)
or learning to type quicker

-if you need to reposition a joint - only do it in with the manipulator on one axis at a time
(this will keep your z axis pointing the same way before you moved it)

-SAVE often - especially before you duplicate and mirror bones
I have found sometimes Blender will crash if you duplicate bones that have IK constraints on them
(it was a bug that I think has been fixed now but it’s still good practice)

-don’t forget about the W menu - it has some cool features like “switch direction”
(so much faster than rotating or snapping)

12

ive had a play with scarlett and she is sooo easy to use, even for an noob animator like me, and would be a great add to the BAC.

13

Wow, the rigs are really neat! I was up and test animating in no time; easy to use. Thanks, Wayne!
I checked out your site too- cool stuff!

14

I have updated Pedro to work with blender 2.56

I also did a few updates to make the rig better

Updates:
-Tail now has a slider for inherit rotation from the butt, and you can slide on/off the automatic tail bend
-Neck now has a slider for inherit rotation from the chest
-Head has the same thing as above
The Tail is now a lot easier to work with

fixes:
fixed the leg stretch
changed the ears set-up (but it works the exactly same)

http://www.waynedixon.com.au/Pedro/Pedro.png

This file is too large to attach in the forum (it’s 1mb)
so here is the Download link

http://www.waynedixon.com.au/Pedro/Pedro_2.5.6.blend
15

Thanks for the update.

16

Nice Rigs, specially scarlet :wink: I’m seriously thinking of using it for my next assignment at AM.

17

@nacv2000 - great,

post a link to the video if you do :slight_smile:

18

Sure, i’ll post it up if they allow me to use it. Now got to search for some spider walking video ref :slight_smile:

19

Richard williams says a spider is 2 four legged animals stuck together

the front 4 legs work like a horse/dog - as do the back 4 (and both sets mimic each other)
that is a good starting point I think - and then you can offset the back 4 legs so they don’t move at the same time

the walk cycle I did only has 3 keys per foot
contact - passing - opposite contact
it was very quick and very basic (and I didn’t spend the time to offset the back set of legs)

I hope AM let you use it - that would make my day!

20

In reality I don’t need their approval, they just warn students against using other software, because they only support Maya. At the moment I’m trying to find a biped rig for Blender 2.5. I took a look at patin I like how he is rigged but not how he looks. It looks like i’m going to have to port my maya character to blender, Now I have to re learn how to rig in blender again :confused:. Here is the link to my youtube channel and Vimeo channel where I’ll be posting my assignments
http://www.youtube.com/user/nacv2000
http://vimeo.com/nacv2000

Thanks for making such great rigs, and please keep on making more.