Adding global rig attributes

00:03

So with the scene organized, let's look into adding some attributes.

00:08

These will help us control different elements of the rig

00:11

and also offer some extra functionality to the animator too.

00:17

So like the root control

00:19

and go to modify add attribute

00:23

with this window,

00:24

we can create our own custom attributes which we can

00:27

then use to drive other attributes in the rig.

00:30

So it means everything is in one place and easier to access.

00:35

The first we're going to create is an e

00:39

what this will do is give us a drop down box with numerous options to choose from,

00:44

but we are going to use it for something different. Initially,

00:48

we will be looking at some of the other options as we work our way around the rig,

00:52

give it a long name of control divider

00:56

and then check the override. Nice name, check box.

00:59

Now add some dashes maybe 10.

01:02

What we're going to do is create a divider so we can

01:06

separate attributes in the channel box which makes them easier to navigate.

01:11

Change the first enum name to controls

01:14

in capitals

01:16

and delete the second name blue.

01:20

If I add this,

01:20

now you can see that we have a new attribute and

01:23

it's more obvious because of the way we created it.

01:27

Now, we just need to right click on it and lock it

01:31

and also make it non cable.

01:35

We do this. So the animator doesn't inadvertently put key frames on it.

01:39

There, it has a gray tag now to indicate it's locked.

01:45

Now let's create another eu

01:47

this time, call it face.

01:49

We don't need a nice name this time

01:52

now change the options

01:55

change green to hide

01:59

and blue to shore.

02:01

We are setting the first option to hide because in the attribute this equals zero.

02:07

So if we connected it to our visibility attributes,

02:11

they would be set to zero. When this is set to hide,

02:15

they would then be set to one and visible again when the attribute is set to show.

02:20

OK, let's add that.

02:23

So now we have a drop down box

02:26

and this is what an enum attribute is supposed to look like.

02:30

When connected we can use this to quickly show and hide the face controls.

02:35

Let's repeat that now and create enum attributes for the body

02:41

and the arms

02:45

and also the likes.

02:49

The good thing about these attributes is we can also select them

02:52

all and scrub with the middle mouse button to quickly change them.

02:59

OK? Time for another divider,

03:02

give this enum a long name of Viz divider

03:06

and again, change the nice name to a series of dashes

03:10

we built it this way because if we just added dashes in the long name,

03:14

the names would clash with other attributes.

03:17

So using the nice name instead

03:19

means we can have the same number of dashes which makes it look more uniform,

03:24

change the green enum to visibility again in capitals to make it more obvious

03:30

and delete blue.

03:32

Let's add that.

03:33

Now, we just need to right click on it

03:36

and lock it

03:38

and make it non cable.

03:41

We're going to create two more

03:43

OMs again, just like with the face body and arms above.

03:47

So these will just have the same hide and show options,

03:54

call the first one geometry

03:58

and the second blend shapes.

04:01

Now, I know we won't be using blend shapes on this rig,

04:04

but it's an option if you need it on your rigs,

04:07

we need another divider. Now,

04:09

I'm sure you're getting the hang of these now.

04:11

So I'm not going to explain each and every divider I create.

04:15

This one is going to simply be called lock.

04:19

I'll show this over here so you can see where I'm going

04:22

before these were slightly off the screen.

04:25

So

04:26

lock selected

04:29

and make selected non cable.

04:32

We need another

04:33

enum but this time with some different options

04:36

call this export geometry.

04:39

And we need three options. This time

04:42

unlocked

04:44

wire frame

04:47

and locked,

04:49

we will be using this attribute to affect the main models

04:53

so we can effectively lock them so they can't be selected

04:57

and now a final divider,

05:00

this will be our debug section

05:04

under here. We need two visibility attributes,

05:09

one for the rig systems,

05:12

add another for the skeleton.

05:14

OK. So those are the main global attributes ones which will affect the whole rig.