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A few techniques in this video, but the big one is rigging up a photoscanned character. This is something I've been doing a ton lately to quickly add a little life to characters in a scene. It's nice because you don't have to start with a T-pose or anything like that, and letting IK run the show means you don't have to animate a ton of bones.   

Here's the chess playing character, if you'd like to try it on your end! A few related videos:Rigging a skater boy"Getting Into Mechanical Rigging" (probably a better intro to IK if you haven't used it much)

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Quick Rigging for Scans (animating a little vignette)

A few techniques in this video, but the big one is rigging up a photoscanned character. This is something I've been doing a ton lately to quickly add a little life to characters in a scene. It's nice because you don't have to start with a T-pose or anything like that, and letting IK run the show means you don't have to animate a ton of bones. Here's the chess playing character, if you'd like to try it on your end! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I860vVVKah9Rs8W4IO9hgn5XjtqILDsP/view?usp=sharing

Comments

DM06824

Auto Smooth w/ Motion Blur: I was trying to figure this problem out on my latest animation. Thank you!

Frej Volander

just start the animation before :)

Mahdi Poursamad

New video! Thought you were dead for a sec

DCUBE

Always awesome to see a new video, also if you could do a lens flare tutorial sometime?

Nate

Yes! I wanna see the video of the assembly of the scenes in the photos! Pleasssee!! The more Ian the better!

IanHubert

Alright! I'd finish editing it! Heads up though- it's basically exactly what it says on the box :P

Nate

Perfect!! Thank you!!

bittergourd

Hey Ian, do you have a link to the Sketchfab dude you mentioned for the scans?

Tim Evans

Great video, as always. I’m also very keen to see the making of the other photos. Don’t worry about editing it too much, I love a long vid!

Loke Tan

This is a fantastic video. thanks for doing it.

Chris Ras

Thanks Ian, my weekly inspiration. Just knowing these things are possible makes me sleep better at night :D

Ricardo Costa

Ian invented a new game: Pirate Chess. You have two types of pieces: big'uns and the lil'uns. There's no king, so I guess the game ends when someone gets stabbed?

redishere

always a pleasure watching a new video: your Patreon is like a goldmine of creativity and ingenuity!

DoubleUK

Absolutely fantastic. Thanks Ian. So nice to hear you think aloud about the proces. Maybe a simple extra detail that 'll cost you only an extra light: let the two knives catch some light when he's flipping 'em.

Ace Digital

Would love to see the video of you creating those renders!

Benja Min

Thanks Ian. Is there any chance you'd be happy to cover editing an HDRI from Poly Haven. I have been trying to make one look like it's way up in the sky but can't quite manage it. Cheers ears. ❤️

Sariminator

release the photoscanny kitbashing vid!! I wanna eat my breakfast to it

James Sims

Awesome work as always! Have to thank you for all the insight. I’m finally finishing up my first short film featuring a fully CG character. Couldn’t have done it without your tuts and tips! Cheers.

Siyouardi (edited)

Comment edits

2026-09-20 10:00 Do you have a video for your Polycam workflow?
2022-08-30 14:32

Raffo VFX

the white balance trick you did is so cool, I dont know how did you came up with that idea

Lonnon Foster

With apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan: There is no Pirate King! (There's not! There is no Pirate King!) And a glorious thing it is to see there is no Pirate King!

Stormdavinci (edited)

Comment edits

2026-09-20 10:00 i would love to see you kitbashing and modeling there is always something to learn. Don't set the bar to high for your patreon video's ian! people are happy with anything you throw at them. Would love to see more videos on here even if its at the cost of quality. love <3
2022-08-30 18:30 i would love to see you kitbashing and modeling there is always something to learn. Don't set the bar to high for your patreon video's ian! people are happy with anything you throw at them. Would love to see more videos on here even if its at the cost of quality. love <3

i would love to see you kitbashing and modeling there is always something to learn. Don't set the bar to high for your patreon video's ian! people are happy with anything you throw at them. Would love to see more videos on here even if its at the cost of quality. love <3

Jonas

Ian: Half-asses animation for background detail Also Ian: Let's make her breathing!!

Evan Barron

I'm extremely interested in seeing more behind the scenes stuff involving ON-SET footage and just generally see more of the actual FILMING side of things as well. I know it's hard to avoid spoilers so perhaps those can only be released once the episode is also out, but that's something I'd love to have more insight on in terms of the way you do things ^_^

Miko Dela

Thought I'd reply :) I usually just add a mapping node and translate the texture, this is often enough for the lighting. If you want to use the HDRI as the background you'd need something better though.

fluid

So cool! Thank you Ian. I have a nube question about you’re green screen set ups. What your formula for lighting can you suggest lighting units?

Paul Spooner

Nice! I didn't know why riggers put those feather bones in before. Good info! I would have had the player look up at the robot before the robot flicks out the knives, just to establish a conversation, but as you say, it's rough and ready.

Phil South

I like this length of video, easier to consume that something which takes 45 min or an hour, and the density of tips is good too. Covering ground you already covered = reinforcement not repetition. :D

hamuzhanhazretleri

Hey Ian! Can you make a video about compositing renders? Thanks...

Sgt_Squarepants

I think he kinda did that with an after effects compositing breakdown a while back

Henry Lightfoot

that auto keyframing trick is genuis! i dont know how thats never occured to me!

Tomasz Woźniakowski

working with DAWs makes me long for that prerecording countdown to be implemented in Blender. It would make live animating so much easier