Introduction to Maya - Modeling Fundamentals Vol 1
This course will look at the fundamentals of modeling in Maya with an emphasis on creating good topology. We'll look at what makes a good model in Maya and why objects are modeled in the way they are.
# 1 09-11-2014 , 05:12 PM
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Switching an Objects Skin Weights via Driven Keys?

Hallo,

I have a rig built of 2 meshes. One is the main mesh of the creature and the other is a neck frill (activated by a blend shape) similar to the dilophosaurus in Jurassic Park. When the Frill is retracted it clings to the animals neck and bends and twists just as the neck skeleton does. Which is perfectly how I want it. Example below:

https://imgur.com/j1hZOvr,mNJRP5A,d1JxTmC,SdQS7g8

https://imgur.com/j1hZOvr,mNJRP5A,d1JxTmC,SdQS7g8#1

However, when I activate the frill and try to move the head, the skin weights prevent the frill from moving fully with the head and neck as seen below:

https://imgur.com/j1hZOvr,mNJRP5A,d1JxTmC,SdQS7g8#2

https://imgur.com/j1hZOvr,mNJRP5A,d1JxTmC,SdQS7g8#3

I can't get rid of the skin weights causing the issue or the frill won't cling to the neck ask it's supposed to when closed.

So the best idea that occurs to me is to use a set driven key (or something similar that I'm not yet familiar with) to change the frill from being bound to skeleton when closed to having the frill either parented to the head controller or a second neck skeleton without the weights that are causing the problem.

Does anyone know if this is possible? I'd imagine with the complexity of VSFX these days there has to be some kind of solution out there.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Last edited by Jakob1105; 10-11-2014 at 05:09 PM.
# 2 09-11-2014 , 06:17 PM
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# 3 09-11-2014 , 06:46 PM
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Thanks, for replying.

Do you mean that I can key my skin weights with a driven key? Because that would be ideal, but I'm just not sure if that can actually be done.

I'll take a look at that link too.

Thank you.

# 4 09-11-2014 , 07:34 PM
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If that's does not work you could use the wrap deformer running of the blend shape.............dave




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# 5 09-11-2014 , 11:16 PM
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Forgot to say I like the look of your model and texturing.................dave




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# 6 10-11-2014 , 03:22 AM
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Thanks for the feed back.

Still though, I've spent just about all day trying to figure out a solution to this, and nothing seems to work.

Is it possible to change a meshes skin weights via a driven key?

Because if I could change the skin weights from one set to another that would solve everything.

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