Smart bone head turn query

[madrobot]

edit: (Not the actual rig, sketch is to ilustrate my point)

So I can use a smartbone rig to do a nice head turn between the top two images,
And I can even go from the top left image down to the ones beneath it.
But I am looking for thoughts on going from bottom left across to the right?

If I mix the two smart bones I get wierd distortions (as you might expect I suppose.)
I have seen morph bone rigs previously but they seemed less elegant and stable
than smart bone method. Any thoughts tips or ideas? Thanks guys.
Adrian

Also Happy Easter. Don't eat to much chocolate.
Easier said than done for those of us with kids.
Those who do, I share your nausea and inability to stop... eating... chocolate...

[funksmaname]

I would probably mix the two and then have a 3rd bone for fixing the distortion?
Alternatively, have a separate diagonal look down bone...
While the smart bone process might not be 100% automatic/universal, it will save you a ton of time regardless

[madrobot]

Thankyou mate. Food for thought.

[funksmaname]

I wonder what would happen if bone 3 for fixing the distortion turned 1 and 2 - so that for a diagonal you only need turn 3, but then you could unturn 1 and 2? hmm...

[madrobot]

Ohhh that's an interesting idea...

I'm taking some old but much-repeated advice of Chucky's and sticking closely to my storyboard,
rigging for specifically what I need in the shots instead of doing what I tend to do which is diving head first
down unnecessary technical rabbit holes for days at a time on things which are fun and satisfying to
get stuck into, but ultimately tend to be unrelated to my actual goals in terms of footage on screen

That said, once I get the turns in as boarded I'll have a look, and if the body language could do with a little
loosening up which the 3rd morph between 2 other poses might provide, I'll give it a burl.
For me half the issue is staying focused, not inventing a periscope rifle when I just need to open a can.

[funksmaname]

instead of doing what I tend to do which is diving head first
down unnecessary technical rabbit holes for days at a time

EXACTLY this! the problem is we think we might save hours down the line by spending days failing to come up with a perfect universal rig - but unless you plan to do a series with a character for years to come, any attempt at 'universal' will undoubtedly be a complete waste of time!

[slowtiger]

If you need that, use 3D.