Rigid Envelope

The Skin->Rigid Envelope command in the Actor module allows you to assign a rigid envelope to a chain or skeleton. This type of envelope does not deform with the movement of the articulated chain's joints. Although it does not deform, it still takes advantage of the weighting capabilities of envelopes.

Note:

All other envelope types (automatic, local, global) are flexible and deform with the movement of joints.

Rigid envelopes can be made from any kind of hierarchical model, but meta-clay systems are especially useful because the resulting motion is more realistic. Rigid envelopes map the centre of the envelope to the nearest skeleton elements, unlike flexible envelopes which map the object vertices to skeleton elements.

For detailed descriptions of all envelopes and their use, refer to Skin for Skeletons in the Modelling User's Guide.

Procedure

1. Create a model hierarchy to serve as the envelope.
2. Position the skeleton or chain in the envelope object as desired.
   
   Note:
   
   Positioning of the skeleton in its skin influences the result.
   
   
3. Select the hierarchy or meta-clay system you want to assign as the rigid envelope.
4. Choose the Skin->Rigid Envelope command.
5. Pick the skeleton hierarchy. You can select elements in more than one hierarchy.
   
   The Envelopes Initial Assignment dialogue box is displayed, as described on Envelopes Initial Assignment of this guide.
   
   
6. Select the weighting assignment and the assignment depth according to which the envelope is assigned.
7. Click Ok to apply the settings or Cancel to exit the dialogue box.

The envelope is assigned to the skeleton.

Last updated 02-apr-1998