BOW AND ARROW RIG

 

Bow and arrow involves 2 rigs, since there are 2 objects in relation to each other.

 

 

In the above image, the arrow is hidden and bow group is freeze transformed for better manipulation.

 

By using joint tool, joints are added to top bow. The root joint is located in the bow centre. The root joints are renamed with specific names i.e for bow_up_jnt. Since, there are many joints they are named after numbers i.e bow_up1_jnt...

 

IK handle tool is inserted from 1st joint to tip joint. IK handle allows the joints to move flexibly in all axis. The top joints are selected and mirrored to bottom bow by replacing the names from up to down.

 

The joints are skinned to their corresponding bow model with bind skin > smooth bind. By selecting the vertices of the string, cluster deformers are added which help in transformation of particular group of vertices selected by user.

 

 

In the above image, the outliner clearly shows the connections.

 

The top IK handle is parented with top cluster, as well as the bottom IK handle with bottom cluster. For stretching of string arrow is used as reference and value is calculated along z axis and the limit is set in the attribute. By using set driven key function the string is keyed. Controls are added to bow, arrow and string by using curves.

 

 

This image displays the arrow rig.

 

The arrow group is grouped itself 3 times and named transform_grp, adjust_grp, spin_grp in order. misplacing the order will create problems in upcoming functions to be carried out. The pivots of each group are placed at end of arrow.

 

For the arrow 3 extra attributes are added to perform adjustment, spinning, space switching operations. The data type for space switching is ENUM. Node editor is used to connect the attributes to specific functions.

 

A null group is created and parent constrained with arrow control. bow control and arrow control is parent constrained.

 

The above image shows the space switching in right side of image.