Geppetto Auto-Rigging Tool for Blender (WIP)
by Raster Ron · 08/05/2014 (12:15 am) · 27 comments
Hi All,
I have been working on an Auto-rigging solution which simplifies the rigging process for humanoid and biped meshes. Ideally, this will be a 2 - 3 step procedure and will be particularly helpful for those who are just starting game development, animation or content creators who are in need of a quick rigging solution or prototyping for their characters. I thought of developing this add-on since I myself also have struggled with rigging simple or biped type characters for my demos.
It also provides a basic armature like Rigify but much simpler. This will be improved eventually and ideally more armature options like SecondLife, Valve and other rig setups for games can be added.
I also started a crowdfunding campaign at Pledgie.com to accelerate the development of this project. I don't have an actual demo preview video right now, but I will post it soon here and on my YouTube channel. The project will be open source and licensed under GPL.
Latest Screenshot Test
YouTube Videos/Playlist
GitHub Project Page
Accelerate Project Development on Pledgie
With the recent improvement of FBX import/export feature to the latest Blender (as of 2.7+) and Collada support for Torque and other engines, I think this could benefit to a lot of Blender users or just the next handy tool in your asset pipeline.
Cheers.
Ron
I have been working on an Auto-rigging solution which simplifies the rigging process for humanoid and biped meshes. Ideally, this will be a 2 - 3 step procedure and will be particularly helpful for those who are just starting game development, animation or content creators who are in need of a quick rigging solution or prototyping for their characters. I thought of developing this add-on since I myself also have struggled with rigging simple or biped type characters for my demos.
It also provides a basic armature like Rigify but much simpler. This will be improved eventually and ideally more armature options like SecondLife, Valve and other rig setups for games can be added.
I also started a crowdfunding campaign at Pledgie.com to accelerate the development of this project. I don't have an actual demo preview video right now, but I will post it soon here and on my YouTube channel. The project will be open source and licensed under GPL.
Latest Screenshot Test
YouTube Videos/Playlist
GitHub Project Page
Accelerate Project Development on Pledgie
With the recent improvement of FBX import/export feature to the latest Blender (as of 2.7+) and Collada support for Torque and other engines, I think this could benefit to a lot of Blender users or just the next handy tool in your asset pipeline.
Cheers.
Ron
About the author
Artist/Gamer/Developer/Full Stack Web Developer
#2
You're very generous and it's surely worth the pledge!
08/05/2014 (5:07 am)
I don't use Blender, but I still think it's awesome!!!You're very generous and it's surely worth the pledge!
#3
08/05/2014 (6:13 am)
Great work. Will we ever see this converted over to use on 3d Max (any version) ?? I use max a lot for my own projects but may have to get and learn blender if not. I tried Blender before, it was too complex for my tastes but never the less, might be worth a 2nd try with this coming to light. Thanks for posting and making it free.
#4
08/05/2014 (6:46 am)
This is great!, it's like Mixamo, just better :P
#5
@Will
This will be only for Blender but you can export now using FBX (with skeleton and animations) for 3DS Max and other 3D tools. Yes, I'm also working on making the interface much easier and intuitive and there will be some customization options in the works as well.
08/05/2014 (6:46 am)
Thanks guys! I greatly appreciate your support and feedback :D@Will
This will be only for Blender but you can export now using FBX (with skeleton and animations) for 3DS Max and other 3D tools. Yes, I'm also working on making the interface much easier and intuitive and there will be some customization options in the works as well.
#6
08/05/2014 (6:53 am)
Sweet thanks for the info, can't wait to try it out
#7
08/05/2014 (6:55 am)
Do you have a beta testing thing going by any chance? If so, I would like to be on it to test it out for you during my free time. Also, when do you think it will be released to the public? Thanks for the info. Have a great day!
#8
08/05/2014 (7:04 am)
Yes Lukas, thanks. I hope it gets better and still working on it ;-)
#9
Sure thing and have a good one!
08/05/2014 (7:19 am)
Hey Will, apparently this is still in experimental stage and a work in progress. I'm also doing some game projects at the moment so I could not give you guys an ETA on the public release date yet. However, I will post more updates here of my test cases and development on the project.Sure thing and have a good one!
#10
08/05/2014 (8:08 am)
This will save so much time. I can't want to use this when it's ready. Keep up the good work. :)
#11
08/05/2014 (8:53 am)
Yes, I hope this tool will help a great deal. Thanks Stephen :-) 
#12
08/05/2014 (5:25 pm)
I am waiting for that tool to complete my 3D game project.
#13
thanks again man,
Will
08/05/2014 (5:28 pm)
Ron would you email me when the product is released? My email is info@hallowscreams.com this way I can be sure I know when it comes out. Would this be possible? Please let me know. I want to use it for my haunted attractions I create in torque 3d. I sell them to clients who want virtual haunted recreations of their haunted attractions.thanks again man,
Will
#15
08/06/2014 (3:25 am)
Thank you for your interest Nora Ky. :-) This will be released when it's ready. 
#16
I find a really nice workflow to use Makehuman and Makewalk in blender.
First i make the character in make human. Then I import it in blender. Then i switch on makewalk in blender and load a bvh to the rig, and voila, it is animated also. You can use any game character rig! The cool thing is Makewalk, where you get your rig animated. watch the last part of the video, after the makehuman part.
Now i just export the model as collada for T3D, also every animation i make a single collada, and in the T3D editor I generate the animation to the model. (You can import the animation as dae in the editor)
Here a video showing makewalk and makehuman and how to implement in blender.
Sorry to write that here, but i think it is interesting to show you.
08/06/2014 (4:24 am)
Thanks Ron, that is usefully!I find a really nice workflow to use Makehuman and Makewalk in blender.
First i make the character in make human. Then I import it in blender. Then i switch on makewalk in blender and load a bvh to the rig, and voila, it is animated also. You can use any game character rig! The cool thing is Makewalk, where you get your rig animated. watch the last part of the video, after the makehuman part.
Now i just export the model as collada for T3D, also every animation i make a single collada, and in the T3D editor I generate the animation to the model. (You can import the animation as dae in the editor)
Here a video showing makewalk and makehuman and how to implement in blender.
Sorry to write that here, but i think it is interesting to show you.
#17
Yes, the custom rigs are a good addition. Thanks for the tutorial, I'm glad this is working out for you. :-)
08/06/2014 (6:18 am)
Hey D Fasel. I already used MakeHuman before, used it for a while and I think it's also great. In fact, I had two versions of it installed and I consider the previous one better than the latest (1.0 Alpha 7, with the Perspective view). Well, that's just me :D Yes, the custom rigs are a good addition. Thanks for the tutorial, I'm glad this is working out for you. :-)
#18
Trinity Kick
Did some shoulder deform checking before posing. Base mesh around 20k tris
08/06/2014 (6:24 am)
*Test Update* Trinity Kick
Did some shoulder deform checking before posing. Base mesh around 20k tris
#19
When i get some little time, i may make a tutorial about the workflow to get it animated with makewalk, and then port to T3D. I think this could be usefully for Torque users.
08/06/2014 (6:29 am)
Most interesting is Makewalk, the add On for Blender. It always save me a lot animation time, when i can just use a bvh as basic, and then edit it to my purpose, and just save as dae animation so i can use it for the riged character in T3D. Really a nice workflow this way, when you made the character in Blender.When i get some little time, i may make a tutorial about the workflow to get it animated with makewalk, and then port to T3D. I think this could be usefully for Torque users.
Torque Owner Kory Imaginism
innovative imaginations