Rigging is the process of preparing a 3D model for animation by creating a skeleton and controls that allow animators to manipulate the model’s movements. In rigging, a digital skeleton, often composed of joints, is attached to the model, and a set of controls is created to facilitate animation. Rigging is fundamental in character animation, enabling artists to bring characters to life with realistic movements.
Imagine an animated character performing a dance – rigging provides the underlying structure that dictates how the character’s joints move and how different body parts respond to animation controls. Rigging involves setting up constraints, inverse kinematics, and deformers to ensure that the 3D model moves in a natural and expressive manner during animation.