Open Rigging Through XML: Character Setup Utilizing Metadata and Node Based Editing

Abstract

Modular rigging systems exist to automate many of the labor intensive tasks associated with setting up character motion and control systems for 3D animation production. In this paper, a modular rigging system is described that encodes rig definitions in extensible markup language (XML). This method provides for version control along with the construct of a metadata node network facilitating easy propagation of changes to existing rigs. A node based interface is also provided for easily authoring rig definition files. The interface presented to the user is sufficiently simple that a user with minimal knowledge of rigging can construct a variety of complex rigs. By providing a node-based interface and rig definition format that utilizes version control, this method makes available capabilities that are currently not present in other open rigging systems.