Rig Documentation: Rhett the Clydesdale

Return to Noxlabs home page: www.noxlabs.com

Latest free version is Rhett_3.3.12

Creative Crash Commercial version Rhett v5: Here

Creative Crash Free Rhett link: Here

Modeled by: Tim Mayo - Tim's website http://solidfiction.squarespace.com/
Rigged by: Christopher Carson - noxlabs.com

Other noxlabs rigs: Nocbot << New rig for sale ... Nomnom << Next in Que

This page was last updated on 9.29.2012

 

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The goal of the Rhett rig was to provide a lightweight rig with simple controls that allow most major
movements typical of a Clydesdale horse. Rhett is a great rig for animators to use to get started on the basics of quadrapeds.  Rhett comes with a “mini” GUI in order to provide a quick  painless set-up process so that the animator can begin working within seconds of opening the file.

Approach:
The Rhett rig contains Ik, Ik spline, Ik spring, and Fk joint systems. The neck and spine are driven by Ik
spline set-ups. Their controls behave similar to an Fk set-up with rotations at the foundation of
driving the rig but also allowing translation in some of the controls. This spline set-up gives the neck the ability to stretch.

The legs use two different types of Ik systems, the front are dual Ik and the rear are single spring
solvers. Both the front and rear leg chains have pole vector constraints similar to those used in bi-
pedal knee systems. The dual Ik controls for the front legs are the frontElbow_CTRL (upper Ik) and the
frontLegAnkle_CTRL (lower Ik). Both controls must be manipulated in order to properly mimic the
actions of a real horse.

On the ankle controls you will find several attributes that allow more precise
manipulation of the ankle, fetlock, and hooves along with the "autoElbow" attribute for moving the
dual front leg Ik controls automatically. If you decide to use this feature the recommended setting for
it is 2.0 which represents 20% movement of the upper Ik in relation to the lower Ik.

The head and tail joints are Fk however the head control is connected to the spline neck and can be
translated. Above the head is the face control where you can find the attributes for facial manipulation.

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Features:
- Independent shoulder controls for each leg
- Complete Fetlock control including compression
- Auto control attributes for the front elbows which can be blended off or on. The recommended
setting for this attribute is around 2.0 (or 0.0 to disable)
- Stretchy spine and neck
- Multiple mesh resolutions that can be switched instantly
- Completely scalable
- More than a dozen Blend shapes for the face
- Back-up Main Control (Rhett_aCTRL, Rhett_bCTRL)
- Embedded “mini” GUI with easy set up of shelves and buttons ( KeyAll, ZeroAll,  SelectAll
KeyBody, ZeroBody, Keylegs, ZeroLegs, KeyHead, ZeroHead, KeyFace, ZeroFace)

Notes:

- Geometry resolution controls are attributes on the main control (Rhett_bCTRL). Select the Rhett_bCTRL and go to the channel box to see and change the "Display Options".

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Known Issues:

-  Rear spring solvers can be a bit buggy. There is a "Knee Twist" channel located on the ankle control to adjust knee vector if needed.
- The horse does not have the capability for his head to touch the ground, as in grazing.

- Send me a mail if I broke something :)

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Next Update Scheduled for: ??

Please e-mail me with any issues or comments about the rig. I am interested in hearing from you.


Here are links to the best Rhett stuff I could find on the web. They are in most recent order. If you want to add a link to your clip/demo with the Rhett rig send me a mail.

http://vimeo.com/25519719 - Hector Munoz Animation Reel

http://vimeo.com/27816053 - Simon Irvine's Animation Reel
http://vimeo.com/3638145 - Michael Auerswald
http://vimeo.com/10639803 - Thomas Grummt's Animation Reel
http://vimeo.com/14599148 - Anthony Soto's Animation Reel