In a fluster, using clusters.... ha... idiot

I have been experimenting with clusters and lattices on the sleeves. When the arm bends, the arm goes into the sleeve. I have (with the help of good old Alex) added a cluster controller to the rolled up sleeve that moves it up slightly to make it appear that the arm is deforming it itself.

Sleeve down - Sleeve up -

I will also add the same controls to the shorts after i finish weighting him completely.

Weighting, waiting and more weighting

Soooooo, weighting the boy is really hard work.

After weighting him many times, once more i have finally come to a small breakthrough!

He's not completely done but almost. I cant mirror the weights as each time they have ruined everything, each joint has been done manually.

I still need to do the right arm and all of the fingers

Too much time

After weighting Joesph using Lattices etc (Very basically) I decided that it takes too much time and i have a better chance with paint weighting (I knew more about it).

I scrapped the Lattice/Flexors approach and started on the weight painting again, now with more confidence.

Alternate weighting techniques

After struggling with the weighting of Joseph i decided to look into lattice weighting. I have complete control over each vertices, adding and removing weight numerically.

each joint only affects the one next to it.

It's much like painting the weights on except it takes longer and it can look more like stop motion, not all bendy. Each lattice controls the deformation of the area it surrounds.

Being in control

I also added more controls to the spine of Joseph. This way i can be more precise in some of his movements while animating.

We can switch between IK and FK

Losing weight

After weighting Joseph many times I realised that it would work better and would be easier if joseph lost weight.... ha ha. I made him slimmer in the body and also on his thighs, so moving his legs wouldnt cut into the body too much.

Front -

Side -

Them bones, them bones, them dry bones

To help with the weighting and general movement of Joseph, we had to move the joints in certain areas.

I moved the hip joints down and more forward:

Old placement of hip joints -

New placement of hip joints -
Also the joints in the arms have been altered. The elbow joint is closer to the front for a better fold in the skin after weighting. The shoulders have also been pushed down and forward slightly.

Front view of upper skeleton -

Hopefully this should make things easier when it comes to weight painting!