I've been seeing this weird control system, what is it?

posted to: Custom Bone Shape

This maybe way too advanced, but I keep seeing this floating menu system for face controls. I don't expect you to tell me how to build it, I'm guessing coding is involved, just wondering if you could point me in the right direction for later. I think I've only seen it in Maya so may be it's completely out of reach.

Kevin Temmer Tunes - Was looking through some old Martha files and... 
best seen @ 0:24

  • Wayne Dixon replied

    They are called 'Joystick' controls - well that's what I know it as but it probably has other names too.
    Basically it's like a joystick.  You move this thing here, and that thing over there does something.

    There's no coding - it's drivers hooked up to fire when a control is moved in a certain direction.  That's if the mesh is using shape keys.
    If it's using bones, then it would most likely be done with action constraints (ie - play an action when a control translates this way) but it could also be done with other constraints (depends on the needs)

    You can have a look at the 2D baker rig in the lip sync course to see how this works - but there's no videos on how to build it.

    Essentially I am just driving the visibility of the mouth shape based on the location of the control.
    https://cgcookie.com/courses/demystifying-lip-sync-animation-in-blender
    hope that helps.

  • Bryan Johnstone(bryan0johnstone) replied

    Oh thank Wayne, I've been working up the courage to continue with your animation courses, I'll read up on it than.  Got a little distracted by all the concept art courses, before they where gone, been kicking myself for doing so.