How do you manually bind bones in multiple switch layers?

rossanne · Post by **rossanne** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 9:39 pm

So sorry to have to ask, but I could make it work when my animation was simple. Now I've got loads of switch layers for her head (which is also the same layer as her eyes so that the pupils can be behind the head) - with a different switch layer for each eye expression and head angle. Now when I try to animate her waving, her head pops off! I've searched on the forums and the internet but can't seem to find anything. Very frustrating!

Thanks,
Rossanne

rossanne · Post by **rossanne** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 9:39 pm

oh and I'm using anime studio debut 8

funksmaname · Post by **funksmaname** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 11:14 pm

if you put all your switch layers in a bone group and create a bone for the head in that, then use the 'bind layer' tool to bind each head part group to the main head (this could be part of your main skeleton, just make sure all your layers are parented to the head bone)

rossanne · Post by **rossanne** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 8:53 pm

Thankyou for your help, but I'm not getting something here. I've tried following various instructions on how to do it but not getting it right yet.

Sorry I'm being thick, the icon for bone bind points is unselectable. I've tried pressing 'bind layer' but that hasn't stopped her head from popping off still.

My layers are set up like this -

Girl skeleton (bone layer)
- pockets (vector)
- arms (vector)
- dress (vector)
- Head turn (switch layer)
- - Front Facing Head default (bone layer)
- - - neutral face (vector)
- - - sad face (vector)
- - Left facing head (bone layer)
- - - neutral face (vector)

etc... you've got the idea

I've got various head switch layers. Before I added more than one, the head bone binding stopped working. Have I messed up the layers or something?

rossanne · Post by **rossanne** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 8:59 pm

when I select her "girl skeleton" bone layer I can't see the bind points option.

When I select the "head turn" switch layer and try to select the bone it doesn't go blue and the bind points icon is faded.

The same thing happens when I select the "head facing front default" bone layer, although I can't see the bone now.

When I select the "facial expressions" switch layer I can see a head bone, and it's red, but the bind points icon is faded still

And when I select the "neutral expression" vector layer inside it, it's the same as above.

Sorry to go into so much detail but this is doing my nut and I thought it might help!

rossanne · Post by **rossanne** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:03 pm

oh and when I move the bone, nothing moves with it. I've managed to manually bind the rest of her body to the bones, so I know how to do it. I've tried going through every layer and selecting all the points and pressing "bind layer", with the bone selected. No cigar. Damnit

jonbo · Post by **jonbo** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:43 pm

Use the bind layer tool on the head turn switch layer. Select that switch layer, choose the bind layer tool and then click on the bone you want to bind it to. All of the layers inside that one switch layer will follow that bone. You don't need to bind all of those sub-layers. You can't bind points that are in another group type layer i.e. bone, switch, to bones in a different group. If this doesn't work there is a problem with the layer structure. Upload the file to a file sharing site like Mediafire so we can look it over.

rossanne · Post by **rossanne** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:56 pm

thankyou you're ace

I'll try again

rossanne · Post by **rossanne** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 10:30 pm

Thankyou so much. It's totally sorted now, and I don't want to self-harm anymore