Understanding the structure of a rig
In this section, we will introduce you to rigs, the core of this book. This will touch on topics such as IK and FK, handles, and shapes, and then we will move on to using Blender and its controls to make our first rig. Take a look at Figure 1.5; it’s a simple rig made up of bones.
Figure 1.5 – A rigged human atop a rigged horse
Some points of interest in this rig are as follows:
- Tails flow into heads: Bones never meet tail to tail or head to head.
- Some bones have different colors: This is Blender’s default way to show which bones have special properties, relationships, or constraints. You don’t need to worry about this for now; it’s just nice to know that these colors highlight bones with significance.
- Floating bones: Up to now, I have maintained the idea that bones are used to deform a mesh; however, that isn’t always true. Sometimes, you will find bones with...