# quick-rig for humanoid characters While you can [[3d rigging|create your own skeleton rig]] to pose a character, you can quickly use the [Maya Quick Rig](https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/maya/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2023/ENU/Maya-CharacterAnimation/files/GUID-6CAEA6C2-D4F9-422D-8E0F-522171B47C35-htm.html) setup to connect a basic skeleton to a character mesh. The system uses the built-in system [HumanIK (Human Inverse Kinematics)](https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/maya/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2023/ENU/Maya-CharacterAnimation/files/GUID-EDBDA3DB-4715-40EF-9ADF-412F78BFF98E-htm.html) to turn your humanoid mesh into a poseable action figure. ## start with a figure You can create or download your own character mesh. Maya ships with some free starter meshes already built-in. You use the Content Browser to find them. Using the pull-down menus, go to to the **Windows > Content Browser** and the navigate to **Examples > Modeling > Sculpting Base Meshes > Bipeds** folder. I’m using the Alien model, because why not? ![[Pasted image 20230215093955.png]] ## add the skeleton: try one-click There are several ways to get to the Quick Rig. I prefer using the menu icons approach. Set your Menu Set to Rigging and choose the Rigging tab. ![[Pasted image 20230213103132.png]] Select your character mesh and then press the **Quick Rig icon**. It is the first standing character icon that looks like a person with an arrow pointing at them. Alternatively, use the pull-down menus for **Skeleton > Quick Rig**. In the pop-up dialog, you can choose to add a **One-Click** rig. ![[Pasted image 20230215094846.png]] When Maya finishes the process, you will have a rough skeleton rig with controls for all the major joints. You will also have a dialog box for Human IK where you can see all the joints and tweak settings as needed. ![[Pasted image 20230215095436.png]] Notice that Quick Rig didn’t do a very good job of identifying where the joints should be. Rarely does it work perfectly, but always worth a try to see if it will work. Delete your rig. We’ll use the other method. ## add the skeleton: step-by-step In the Quick Rig dialog box, choose the **Step-By-Step** option. For this method, you simply follow the steps as you go down the dialog box. ![[Pasted image 20230215111638.png]] ### 1. Geometry Press the Plus button and choose your mesh. ### 2. Guides Imperfect Mesh default is fine. You can use Watertight if your mesh is fully enclosed and doesn’t have any holes in it (often a mesh might have holes for mouth and eyes). Press the **Create/Update** button and you will get a bunch of points that will work as the joints of your skeleton. ### 3. Adjust the guides Chances are, the guides are not perfectly placed. You can grab individual points and move them into position on your model. It is best to use the 4-Up panels so you can precisely move the points. Remember, you can’t always trust the perspective view for this process. Notice the little row of icons in this section. Those first two are pretty useful. You can position the guides on one of the arms or legs and then mirror them to the other side of the character. That makes the positioning go much quicker. Be sure to select which guides you want to mirror first, of course. ![[Pasted image 20230215112307.png]] ### 4. Skeleton and Rig Generation The defaults here are fine too. You want to have both Skeleton and Control Rig option selected. Press the **Create/Update button**. Maya connects the guide points together to create your skeleton and gives you all the cool control options. Something about pointing pieces toward each other. ### 5. skinning Press the **Create/Update button**. Maya connects the skeleton to the mesh. You now have a poseable character. Good for you. --- ## posing your character Turn on the Human IK dialog menu. ![[Pasted image 20230215140119.png]] At the top of the menu are a bunch of icons. Here are some important ones to know about. The first two bar dots and rib cage icons allow you to turn the skeleton and control points on and off to clean up your interface. The first little person icon makes it so the entire skeleton is affected by the poses. For example, pulling the hand will make the entire body bend and fold. The half-person icon makes it so only a single particular joint chain is affected. So pulling the hand will only affect the arm and nothing else in the body. The last person with only a dot allows you to isolate a particular joint for modification. The two pushpin icons lock movement and rotation for individual joints. The last icon of the orange guy resets everything to a basic standing pose. --- Learn more… - [Quick Rig Tool from Autodesk Help](https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2022/ENU/?guid=GUID-DC29C982-D04F-4C20-9DBA-4BBB33E027EF) - [Human IK from Autodesk Help](https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2023/ENU/?guid=GUID-EDBDA3DB-4715-40EF-9ADF-412F78BFF98E) - [Quick Rigging and Skinning a character for beginners video from Maya Learning Channel](https://youtu.be/c538zkwxgTQ) - [Creating a Character Rig - Part 1: Common rigging pitfalls video from Maya Learning Channel](https://youtu.be/MV4XRgmTynY) - [Quick Rig Maya 2022 Get Your Characters Moving in a Few Clicks video from Creator Brew Digital Knowledge](https://youtu.be/7oYBMK2wVK8) --- tags: #3d #maya #resources home: [[! 3d modeling- maya]]