Switch layers, manual binding and bones

antiheroe · Post by **antiheroe** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 2:21 am

Hello everyone!

I'm making some character and I have one question about Switch layers and manual binding bones, I hope to someone can help me! I'd like to explain me in good way...

When I make the bone layer and start to put bones everything is ok, I can select the points with "Bind points" tools in the vector layer and bind its... See photo 1.

But when I drag the Switch Layer in the bones layer I can't select the points in it, or in the vector layer of the switch layer. I see the bones locked or something in a pink color... See photo 2.

The only way that I know to put bones in switch layers is put the bones on the switch layer, not in a separate bone layer. And this is complicated to me because it is independent of the general rig.

Sorry if I explain me wrong, I hope you understand me.

Please help me, I want to animate this guy!

Photo 1

Photo 2

slowtiger · Post by **slowtiger** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:02 am

Hej, I like your style!

Bones only affect any layer that is right inside it, not any layer within a layer inside. You need to "layer bind" those switch layers to the bone.

If you need further bone structur inside a switch layer, you can either playe bone layers inside it, or you can create bones in the switch layer itself.

(Search the forum for "nested bone structure" or the like, it's a regular topic.)

antiheroe · Post by **antiheroe** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:49 pm

slowtiger wrote:Hej, I like your style!

Bones only affect any layer that is right inside it, not any layer within a layer inside. You need to "layer bind" those switch layers to the bone.

If you need further bone structur inside a switch layer, you can either playe bone layers inside it, or you can create bones in the switch layer itself.

(Search the forum for "nested bone structure" or the like, it's a regular topic.)

Hi Slowtiger,

thanks for your reply, I have been exploring the forum with your keywords and I have found some information.

But I still have some doubts. I don't know how can I bind single points in a Shape, for example, in the file that I have attached http://dl.dropbox.com/u/245301/tirar/arm.zip I don't know how can I choose de points that are controlled by the bone...

Thanks for your patience, I hope you can help me!

slowtiger · Post by **slowtiger** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:31 pm

You use the select point tool (G) and the shift key to select one or a certain group of points, then shift to the bind points tool, select the bone, then press space.

antiheroe · Post by **antiheroe** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 3:27 am

Thank you Slowtiger,

But mi problem is how to bind some points that are inside in switch layer. When I select some points I cant see the bones in that layer, that's my problem :_( You can see the file structure here http://dl.dropbox.com/u/245301/tirar/arm.zip is very simple, but I am very stuck with it.

Thank you so much!

slowtiger wrote:You use the select point tool (G) and the shift key to select one or a certain group of points, then shift to the bind points tool, select the bone, then press space.

slowtiger · Post by **slowtiger** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 9:49 am

viewtopic.php?p=118655#118655

antiheroe · Post by **antiheroe** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 5:46 pm

Hi Slowtiger,

thank you very much for your help, but definitely I'm idiot or something because I have been watching the links that you put in the forum, but I can't make that I want to do.
I have uploaded a example file with methods, but anything works like I want. This is the file: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/245301/tirar/im_idiot.zip

In the first Rig "RIG 1" I have made the example that you said here viewtopic.php?p=118655#118655 but here does not work, because in the switch layer I can`t choose anything, because I have only one layer with 2 shapes. And if I'll make 2 diferent "see RIG 2" arms when I switch the bone layer it changes de position, you could see in the file if you want.

There are other rig "RIG 3" with a bone layer with a master bone that moves the switch layer, but does not work fine because it works independently. Perhaps I make a wrong use of the "bind layer"

Really, if you cant help I can understand, you have lots of patience.

Thank you very much.

slowtiger wrote:viewtopic.php?p=118655#118655

slowtiger · Post by **slowtiger** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 6:25 pm

Sorry, can't open your files: too new version.

hayasidist · Post by **hayasidist** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 8:31 pm

Hola antiheroe! You're on ASP8.2?

in Rig1: right click (or whatever the mac equivalent is, if that's your platform) on the "Rig 1 bones arm" layer and "convert to switch".

move this newly created switch out of the old rig1 switch; select it and mainpulate the bones to move the arm. open and close the fist. enjoy!

the "science behind the magic": a switch layer can ALSO have bones in it.

You have a few issues in the vectors to resolve where the shape loops back on itself (and so you the fill "is lost").. but that's a different problem.

If that's not clear, just ask and I'll upload the "working" version.

antiheroe · Post by **antiheroe** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 9:46 pm

thank you Hayasidist,

I have uploaded a similar file this is the link http://dl.dropbox.com/u/245301/tirar/im_silly_RIG.zip your comment help me a lot, thank you very much. But one of my problem is that when I convert de bone layer to switch layer this is an independently bone of the skeleton as you can see in the file, and I need to see the bones of the arm in the "master skeleton". It is possible?

Thank you very much for your help.

About the issues of the vector it's ok, I know, I made this anme only for understand how to work the bones with diferent layers and manual binding.

And yes, I'm working in AS 8.2 for mac.

Slowtiger: later I can download the 8.0 and adapt the file for this version, also thank you very much for your help.

jonbo · Post by **jonbo** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 10:04 pm

I believe Slowtoger is on ASP6.2.

antiheroe · Post by **antiheroe** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 10:36 pm

Thank you Jonbo,

I'll try to download that version in trial mode, I have bought the 8.0 version

I'm a noob with AS!, thanks!

jonbo wrote:I believe Slowtoger is on ASP6.2.

hayasidist · Post by **hayasidist** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 10:47 pm

Hi again. Not exactly possible the way you say -- but the solution is very straightforward.
In your Master Skeleton layer add another bone as a "child" bone of the main backbone. This bone is the "shoulder". Bind the Arm switch layer to this bone. The whole arm will move with this new bone; and then, to make the individual parts of the arm move, use the bones in the Arm switch layer.

antiheroe · Post by **antiheroe** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 11:39 pm

Ohhhhhh Hayasidist! you rocks! Thank you very much, really this help me a lot.

By the way, with all of this questions I have made other way to rig something similar, the way is put all of the shapes as a child of one unique skeleton and animate only the option "visibility" of the layer of you want switch, in this way you can do that I want, it's a complicated but works! I have uploaded a file with an example: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/245301/tirar/thanks.zip

And thanks again Slowtiger for your patience, and Hayasidist for your tips

hayasidist wrote:Hi again. Not exactly possible the way you say -- but the solution is very straightforward.
In your Master Skeleton layer add another bone as a "child" bone of the main backbone. This bone is the "shoulder". Bind the Arm switch layer to this bone. The whole arm will move with this new bone; and then, to make the individual parts of the arm move, use the bones in the Arm switch layer.

hayasidist · Post by **hayasidist** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 1:35 pm

you're welcome.
BTW - I just has another look at your original character. You might find it easier - for when you do different views of the character - to label "left arm" and "right arm" (etc) from the character's point of view rather than the camera's point of view -- you have brazo derecha and izquierda from camera view --- but if that's what you want to do ... hey ... just enjoy animating.