An Essential Introduction to Maya Character Rigging

While some rigging books focus too much on the theory of rigging and provide little instruction, others do the exact opposite and offer no reasoning behind the button-pushing. An Essential Introduction to Maya Character Rigging, 2nd Edition, however, offers a perfect balance. Cheryl Briggs' text is built for the classroom, with step-by-step tutorials that guide the reader through the rigging process. With vibrant screenshots and a plethora of helpful tips, this book provides a strong foundation in character rigging for anyone who wants to pursue 3D animation or more advanced rigging topics. Features - Provides readers with fundamental techniques to give them a firm grasp on Maya character rigging. - Thorough step-by-step tutorials, which provides instruction on how to create biped, quadruped, and prop rigs. - Continuous updates and further support can be located at www.cherylcreates.com Cheryl Briggs (formerly Cabrera) is an award-winning animated short film director. She has advised and guided aspiring animators, game artists, and visual effects artists for 20 years. Since 2009, Cheryl has taught all aspects of production in the Character Animation specialization in the School of Visual Arts and Design at the University of Central Florida. She also taught as Professor of Animation at the Savannah College of Art and Design from 2001 to 2009. Cheryl is currently on the Board of Directors for the Animation Hall of Fame. She also is a member of the Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques (SIGGRAPH), the International Animated Film Society (ASIFA-Hollywood), Women in Animation, Women in Film and Television, and the Society for Animation Studies. Cheryl is also an Autodesk Certified Professional and an Autodesk Certified Instructor in Maya. She is the author of An Essential Introduction to Maya Character Rigging (Focal Press, 2008), Reel Success: Creating Demo Reels and Animation Portfolios (Focal Press, 2013), and Animating Short Stories: Narrative Techniques and Visual Design (Bloomsbury Academic, 2019). Cheryl holds a B.A. and M.Ed. in Education and an M.F.A. in Computer Art with a specialization in 3D Animation. She is a digital artist and animator that blends the lines between digital imagery and the traditional painting medium. She has participated is numerous group and solo exhibitions in the United States and her work is featured in several private collections. Her award-winning students have been featured in animation festivals worldwide, and many have gone on to work within the entertainment industry.

Cheryl Briggs (formerly Cabrera) is an award winning animated short film director and has advised and guided aspiring animators, game artists, and visual effects artists for 20 years. Since 2009, Cheryl has been teaching all aspects of production in the Character Animation specialization in the School of Visual Arts and Design at the University of Central Florida. She also taught as Professor of Animation at the Savannah College of Art and Design from 2001 to 2009. Cheryl is currently on the Board of Directors for the Animation Hall of Fame is a member of SIGGRAPH, ASIFA-Hollywood, Women in Animation, Women in Film and Television, and the Society for Animation Studies. Cheryl is also an Autodesk Certified Professional and an Autodesk Certified Instructor in Maya; Author of An Essential Introduction to Maya Character Rigging (2008, Focal Press), Reel Success: Creating Demo Reels and Animation Portfolios (2013, Focal Press), and Animating Short Stories: Narrative Techniques and Visual Design (2019, Bloomsbury Academic). Cheryl holds a B.A. and M.Ed. in Education and an M.F.A. in Computer Art with a specialization in 3D Animation. She is a digital artist and animator that blends the lines between digital imagery and the traditional painting medium. She has participated is numerous group and solo exhibitions in the US and her works are featured is several private collections. Her award-winning students have been featured in animation festivals worldwide, and many have gone on to work within the entertainment industry.

Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Skeleton Setup 11 Chapter 2: Control Rig Setup 41 Chapter 3: Bipedal Legs and Feet 75 Chapter 4: Bipedal Spine and Neck 103 Chapter 5: Bipedal Arms and Hands 143 Chapter 6: Quadruped Legs and Feet 193 Chapter 7: Quadruped Spine and Neck 261 Chapter 8: Head 305 Chapter 9: Facial Rigging 335 Chapter 10: Props 379 Chapter 11: Wrapping Up the Setup 393 Chapter 12: Skinning Your Character 415