The neck, thankfully, is not a terribly difficult “joint” to rig, but it does have at least three interesting/complex sets of bones with constraints, so let’s go over those!

The banner image here is of Zandeya, a newer character. The images in the page are of Verachantesse. The tutorial uses Monette Taida, the surfer girl featured in the other tutorials. All three characters feature the exact same neck rig, modified slightly for their differing proportions.

Lesson Sessions

1. (12m56s) Free Technical Overview: Hierarchy and Relationships and Constraints also available on Youtube.
2. (15m57s) Trapezius top and bottom with constraints, copy location and stretch to.
3. (10m45s) SternoCleidoMastoid addition and ensuring everything is a proper child of things.
4. (9m29s) Throat stretch bones and making more pronounced the sternocleidomastoids.

Bone Hierarchy

Here is the Hierarchy of the neck rig:

• mch-neck
  • mch-throatStretchTarget
• def-jaw
  • def-throatTop
    • def-throatBottom
• def-head
  • def-earMaster.L,R
    • mch-sternocleidomastoidStretch.L,R
  • various skull bones for capturing weight of skull
• ctrl-chestResize
  • def-trapeziusBottom.L
  • def-sternocleidomastoid.L,R
    • def-trapeziusTop.L
    • def-sternocleidomastoid.L,R.001
• def-clavicle.L,R
  • mch-TrapeziusStretchTo.L,R

Educational Offerings

We have two offerings. The first is a ~12-minute free technical overview video. This includes all the bones, their relationships, constraints, and some discussion. The second is a long-form lesson where we place all the bones from scratch.

• FREE Technical Overview Video: Published February 23rd, 2022 also available on Youtube.
• Paid $24 step-by-step setup: Published February 26th, 2022.

The free technical overview uses Zandeya Stormer as the subject, but the full tutorial is done with Monette Taida, to match the other tutorial sessions done so far.

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