I want actor to hold object (i.e. cell phone) between face and hand, but can't figure out how to do this. I can't seem to move hand on Z-axis away from the face. There has to be an easy way to do this, I've seen video (Power Tools Vol. 1 video @ 1:30) where actor was holding apple in her hands. Please help! :)

Hi..

I'm not entirely sure if your question is how to get your character to hold an object or if you are asking how to animate the arm/hand once holding the cell phone. Perhaps you could clarify this.

Getting your character to hold an object like a cell phone is easy enough to achieve in itself. You would select the cell phone prop, then click the Link/Unlink button from the top tool bar and finally click on your characters hand. Then you would only need to adjust the position.

If you are encountering a problem where the cell phone is disappearing behind body parts then you will need to make some adjustments to the layers. There is now a great tutorial available that explains how to do this. You can find it using the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q48OL3bj5xY

Hope this helps a little.

                                                                

Peter
Forum Administrator

www.reallusion.com

My question was about positioning phone between hand and face. Phone is an external object to the actor and doesn't show in it's layer list. I can position phone either behind person, or in front, but not in between hand and face. I've tried linking but it doesn't help. Phone is either in front of character or behind it. How do I place it between hand and face?


Thanks!

Hi again

If you want to add the cell phone to the layers list you should use the Attach option in Character Composer rather than Link. Once the cell phone is attached it will show in the layers and the process contained in the tutorial video can then be applied.

Apologies for not making this difference clear in my previous post.

                                                                

Peter
Forum Administrator

www.reallusion.com

Awesome! Exactly what I was looking for, thanks Peter! I didn't even have to attach, just went to Character Composer and added custom Prop. Works great! :)

Is there a way to attach and release an object as part of the animation? For example, picking up a cup and setting it back down.

(Any links to tutorials would be greatly appreciated).

Thanks.

Any previous posts about picking up a prop and then setting it down? Any tutorials? I've seen one video where a character lifts something and sets it down. How is this accomplished with props, big or small?

You can easily accomplish this by using the Link command.

So your character would move towards the cup on a table. Once at the table you would use the Motion Key Editor to position the hand over the cup adjusting frames accordingly.

Once the hand is over the cup you would select the cup and then select the Link/Unlink button on the top toolbar, then click the hand. The cup will now be attached to the hand.

You would continue your animation and then when you want to put the cup down you would repeat the process with the Link/Unlink button this time to unlink the cup from the hand.

You can see this explained more HERE in the Help Guide.

                                                                

Peter
Forum Administrator

www.reallusion.com

Thank you!