Mathilda Rig Documentation

Setting Up Your Project … 2

Installing the AnimSchool Picker … 3
Using the AnimSchool Picker … 4
Optimizing Rig Performance … 5
Loading Shaders … 5
Space-switching / IK-FK-switching … 6
Super Secret Features … 7
Hair Dynamics … 8
Useful Links … 9
Credits … 9

Mathilda Rig Documentation – Page 1

Setting Up Your Project
Like most rigs, Mathilda is intended to be used in a Maya project and with a file referencing workflow.
Get started with these simple steps:

1. Choose File → Set Project...

2. Select the folder Mathilda_Rig and

click “Set”.

Setting your project helps Maya to

automatically resolve file paths:

File textures are stored in the folder

Mathilda_Rig/sourceimages/

The rig file is stored in the folder

Mathilda_Rig/scenes/

The scenes folder also contains

picker files and a shaders file, which
will be explained in the following
sections of this document.

3. Let's reference in the rig file!

Choose File → Create Reference...

4. Navigate to Mathilda_Rig/scenes/
and select “mathilda_rig.ma”

The rig is now referenced and

placed under a namespace.

By default the namespace would be

the name of the referenced rig file
(mathila_rig).

This namespace will enable us to

use Mathilda with the AnimSchool
Picker plug-in.

Mathilda Rig Documentation – Page 2

Installing the AnimSchool Picker
To use Mathilda with a picker interface, it is recommended that you download and install the
AnimSchool plug-in here: http://www.animschool.com/pickerInfo.aspx

Official installation instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTrpSHLqSrM

Tip: If you don't feel like following instructions, just drag-and-drop "AnimSchoolPicker_install.mel" into
Maya and go with the flow...

After installation, you will see a shiny, new “AnimSchool” button on your shelf. Click to launch!

Mathilda Rig Documentation – Page 3

Using the AnimSchool Picker
Two picker files are provided in Mathilda_Rig/scenes/ – face_picker.pkr and body_picker.pkr

When you open these files in AnimSchool Picker, it will ask you to choose a namespace. Set "RIG" to
the namespace you are using for the referenced rig. Don't change the "RIG:FACE" namespace!

Here is a quick overview on what the different types of buttons do:

Gray rectangles Execute a command, such as batch selecting/keying controls,

resetting attributes, toggling visibilities, etc...

Load/Del. Load Mental Ray shaders and high-resolution textures onto a

Shaders “advanced_shading” render layer. Use this before rendering.

Colored squares, Select individual controls.

rectangles
Colored circles Select a group of controls, such as the spine or a finger.

Green squares Switch between spaces (w) world, (r) root, (c) cog, (l) leg, (s)
spine, or (h) head.
IK2FK / FK2IK Switch between IK and FK while maintaining the current pose.

Mathilda Rig Documentation – Page 4

Optimizing Rig Performance
You can speed up the rig's performance by switching off features that you are not using. This can be
done either with picker buttons or in the channel box.

Loading Shaders
The button will prompt you to select the file
“Mathilda_Rig/scenes/mathilda_advanced_shaders.ma”.
This will load Mental Ray shaders and high-resolution
textures onto a “advanced_shading” render layer.

You can still switch back to “masterLayer” if you want to

work with regular lambert shaders.

The loading process may take a few minutes, so don't

panic if Maya appears to freeze for a while. (Do save your
work to be safe!)

Mathilda Rig Documentation – Page 5

Space-switching / IK-FK-switching
Picker buttons such as and allow you to switch between spaces or IK/FK while
maintaining the current pose. If you are animating these switches, you should remember to key the
appropriate attributes in the channel box.

Space-switching attributes are usually found on IK controls.

IK/FK attributes are located on the hand and foot controls (labeled “Hand” and “Foot” respectively on
the picker buttons.)

Mathilda Rig Documentation – Page 6

Super Secret Features
While the Mathilda rig uses an FK spine, it can also be manipulated with IK-like behavior by increasing
the “Spine Influence” attribute on “Mathilda_hip_ctrl”. This allows you to keep her shoulders
stationary while influencing the spine from the hips.

You can discover more “hidden” features by looking at each control's attributes in the channel box.
The following table will help to get you started in the treasure hunt for rig features:

Features Controls Attributes

Bendy limbs (or “rubber hose”) Mathilda_lf/rt_hand_ctrl Rubber Hose Ctrl Vis
Mathilda_lf/rt_foot_ctrl
Stretchy limbs Mathilda_lf_arm_ik_ctrl Stretchy Arm
Mathilda_lf/rt_heel_ik_ctrl Stretchy Leg
Hand poses Mathilda_lf/rt_hand_ctrl Master Fist/Spread/Cup
Finger Curl, etc
Foot roll Mathilda_lf/rt_heel_ik_ctrl Foot Roll
Foot Break
Hair controls Mathilda_root_ctrl Dynamic Hair
Hair Ctrl Vis
Jacket controls Mathilda_root_ctrl Jacket Ctrl Vis
Lip seal (or “sticky lips”) CT_jaw_pri_ctrl Seal Amount
Seal Height
Lip curl in/out CT_jaw_pri_ctrl Lip Curl
Fleshy eyelids LT/RT_eye_ctl Auto Fleshy
Additional face controls CT_face_ctrl Tertiary Controls Vis
Eye Shaper Fine Vis

Mathilda Rig Documentation – Page 7

Hair Dynamics
Picker buttons or attributes in the channel box can be used to toggle between geometry or Paint
Effects (dynamic) hair.

When you initially switch on Dynamic Hair, you may need to reset your time slider to the start frame
(default at 1) to see the hair update.

These buttons on the face picker provide quick access to nucleus and hair system nodes,
where you may customize attributes to suit your preferences, or tame the hair in extreme poses.

Collision (nRigid) objects have been created for the

head and hands. If you would like the hair to
interact with props or other characters, you can
create your own nRigid objects:

1. nDynamics menu → nMesh →

Create Passive Collider
2. Assign the solver “mathildaHairNucleus”.

To cache the simulation, select both front and back hair system nodes, go to the nDynamics menu,
and choose nCache → Create New Cache

Mathilda Rig Documentation – Page 8

Useful Links
• AnimSchool Picker – http://www.animschool.com/pickerInfo.aspx
• AnimSchool Picker Installation – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTrpSHLqSrM
• Maya hair rendering and grooming – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoII4OBjaGY
• Maya nHair dynamics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeWisUaz3bE

Credits
Character Rig Created By
Lin Xiong
Leon Sooi

Special Thanks (Animators)

Scott Wright
Prasad Narse
Alex Anderson-Kenney

Software
Autodesk Maya 2014
Pixologic ZBrush
abAutoRig II Premium

Mathilda Rig Documentation – Page 9