rigging with matrices - part02 - fk

In this episode I build the initial arm module structure with a dynamic fk control rig using guides. Ik make use of the offsetParentMatrix plug on maya's transform node to directly plug matrices into the controls. EDIT: I was just recording another video and I noticed that when the arm was straight the fk controls did not align correctly, because the aimMatrices for them where still set to use aim mode for the secondary alignment. I correct this in a later video (episode 8) when I come across this. If you want to fix this now, on the aimMatrix nodes for both the upper and lower arm, set the secondary mode to align, the secondary input axis to 0,1,0, the secondary target vector to 0,0,-1 and plug the worldMatrix[0] of the arm_L_upper_guide into the secondaryTargetMatrix. Sorry for this, but I'm (luckily) still human and make mistakes some times ;) 00:00 tranform node 03:38 offsetParentMatrix as buffer 06:57 use guides to drive buffer 10:42 flatten control hierarchy with multMatrix 17:07 flatten guide hierarchy 22:18 automatic guide orientation with aimMatrix 38:47 guided rotation plane orientation 53:51 create rig module structure 58:18 add and connect root module #3danimation #rigging #trigonometry #linearalgebra #matrices #maya