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Setting Up a Full Character Rig: Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will walk you through the process of setting up a full character rig for your 3D models. The character rig will include both the body rig and the facial rig, utilizing Rigify for the body and a custom blend of blend shapes and deformer bones for the face.

Adding the Body Rig

1. Centering the 3D Cursor:
   • Ensure the 3D cursor is centered using Shift + S or Shift + C.
2. Adding the Meta Rig:
   • Enable Rigify in user preferences.
   • Add the human meta rig by pressing Shift + A.
3. Editing the Rig:
   • Switch to edit mode to scale the rig, ensuring to use the 3D cursor as the pivot point.
4. Setting Up Symmetry:
   • Enable symmetry by right-clicking and selecting X mirror.

Setting Up the Facial Rig

1. Deleting Extra Bones:
   • Remove unnecessary bones, like the face bone.
2. Creating Custom Bones:
   • Add bones for controlling facial features like eyes, mouth, and eyebrows.
3. Setting Drivers:
   • Use drivers to control bone movements based on specific transformations.
4. Creating Blend Shapes:
   • Develop blend shapes for expressions like blinking, smiling, and frowning.
5. Applying Weight Painting:
   • Assign weights to ensure proper deformation of mesh with bone movement.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can efficiently set up a complete character rig for your models. Experiment with different expressions and movements to bring your characters to life. Stay tuned for more tutorials and tips on 3D character animation.

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Meta description: Learn how to set up a full character rig using Rigify for the body and custom blend shapes for the face. Follow this step-by-step guide for creating realistic 3D character animations.

Keywords: character rig, 3D modeling, Rigify, blend shapes, facial rigging, animation, weight painting, drivers.

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