Cogs, cranks, wheels, plates, chains, springs and pistons - a nightmare for animators. This book shows 3D artists how to create, setup, control and automate movements for complex and technically challenging mechanical structures all while working on a superdetailed steampunk train!

An accomplished creative professional with experience in film, television, commercials, video games and augmented/virtual reality. Jones is a writer, producer and director, with a background in animation and visual effects where he has worked internationally for most of his career. His previous roles have included everything from Character TD/Animator to CG Supervisor and Production Manager to Head of 3D. He is a full member of the Writer's Guild GB, a journal-published MBA graduate, and holds various speaking engagements, lectures and workshops throughout the year at various conferences and colleges worldwide.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Preface
2. Acknowledgements
3. About the Author
4. Contributors

1. CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1. Chapter Overview
2. Preparation
3. Art and Science
4. Principles
5. Naming Conventions
6. Layered Setups
7. 3 Stage Asset Build (3SAB)
8. Colors
9. Companion Website
10. Memory Refresh
11. Summary
2. CHAPTER 2: MODEL

1. Conceptualization

1. Reference
2. Scribbles and Concepts
2. Building the Model

1. Technical Considerations
2. Rough Blocking
3. Refinement
4. Polish
3. Naming of the Steampunk Locomotive
4. Memory Refresh
5. Summary
6. CHAPTER 3: RIGGING PREPARATIONS

1. Model Breakdown
2. Redundant Geometry Removal
3. Setting the Scale
4. Geometry and Wireframe Colors (Optional)
5. Names, Names and Naming
6. Creating the Geometry Hierarchy
7. Resetting and Aligning Pivots
8. Reset the Transforms
9. Cleaning Up the Scene
10. Setting the Display Layers (Layers Explorer)
11. Memory Refresh
12. Summary
7. CHAPTER 4: COMMON RIGGING TECHNIQUES

1. Hierarchies
2. Skeletons
3. Forward and Inverse Kinematics
4. Skinning
5. Constraints
6. Controllers

1. Interactive Viewport Controllers (Animation)
2. On-Screen/On-Viewport Controllers (Animation)
3. Reaction Controllers (Transform)
4. General Controllers (Transform)
7. Wire Parameters
8. Custom Attributes
9. Modifiers
10. Pivots and Movable Pivots
11. Memory Refresh
12. Summary
13. CHAPTER 5: BASE RIG

1. ROOT Node
2. Controller Group, Rigging Group, WIP Group
3. BRANCH Nodes
4. Component Breakdown

1. Norah #1 - BRANCH

1. The Bell
2. The Bumper
3. The Joiner
4. The Valves
5. Front and Rear Budge
6. The Cogs
7. Chains
8. Pistons
9. Wheels and Beams
10. Side Pistons
11. First Carriage Tubes/Hoses
2. Norah #2 - BRANCH

1. Bogie, Wheels and Joiners
2. Chains and Suspension
3. Tender and Fans
4. Second Carriage Tubes/Hoses
3. Norah #3 - BRANCH

1. Frame and Joiners
2. Front and Rear Budge
3. Bomb
4. Norah #4 - BRANCH

1. Front/Rear Budge and Joiner
5. Attaching the Geometry
6. Adding the Controllers
7. Memory Refresh
8. Summary
9. CHAPTER 6: ANIMATION AND AUTOMATION RIG - PART 1

1. Norah - Carriage #1

1. The Bell
2. The Bumper
3. The Joiner
4. The Valves
5. Front and Rear Budge
6. The Engine

1. Cogs
2. Chains
3. Pistons
4. Wheels
5. Beams
6. Side Pistons
7. Budge Wheels
7. Memory Refresh
8. Summary
9. CHAPTER 7: ANIMATION AND AUTOMATION RIG - PART 2

1. Norah - Carriage #2

1. Tender

1. Fans
2. Suspension Rods
3. Chains
4. Tubes/Hoses
2. Bogie
3. Norah - Carriage #3

1. The Frame (Main)

1. Bomb
2. Front and Rear Budge

1. Wheels
3. Norah - Carriage #4
4. Linking Up
5. The Cleanup Crew

1. Hierarchies, Hiding and Locking
2. Display Layers
3. Display Tab
4. Controller Cleaning
6. Memory Refresh
7. Summary
8. CHAPTER 8: DEFORMATION RIG

1. Automated Wheel Rotation
2. Technically Accurate Chain Rigging
3. Dynamic Rope and Wires
4. Rumble and Vibration Controls
5. Memory Refresh
6. Summary
9. CHAPTER 9: MORE MECHANICAL RIGGING

1. Train Tracks
2. Hydraulic Pistons
3. Animating Pivot Points
4. Soft Tire Rigging
5. Memory Refresh
6. Summary
10. CHAPTER 10: CONCLUSION

1. Resources and Included Rigs
2. Norah - The Front Cover Render
3. Memory Refresh is missing!
4. What Next?
5. A Quick Note
6. Goodbye and Good Luck