Cineversity

Hi,
I asked the same yesterday but it didnt appear in the forum, apologies if it turns out to be a repeat post.

Is it possible to get a bone/joint chain to follow a spline path? Like a snake going along a spline. Spline wrap does not work as the snake has a bone chain attached to it and I need it to animate the tongue/head etc.
Thanks

I think post #3 has the most usable solution.

Hi sinan.ortakcioglu2,

When the joints follow the spline, where is the difference to let the Object be in a Spline Wrap, and have the secondary animations done with a Pose Morph.

For joints along spline:

Please have a look at the two setups below:
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/En115rhtMmgBogqwQzC1emEsiS1Kl2lY0jyblfayY6R

There is always a chance of Euler-Angle with spline. hence the initial question

I would create a spline path, place it as Spline into the MoSpline (Set to Spline).
With the Current State To Object, you can harvest then a Spline that is very even in point distances.

This goes again into a MoSpline, and this time only a fraction is used, e.g., 0-10%.

An empty Spline goes then into the Destination field, which produces a small Spline. This is also set to Even.

With the Offset, you can now move the short Spline.

Perhaps have the main Spline longer with a straight part to bind the snake.

I have two options in the file, perhaps test what will work best for your set up.

Additional animation is then done with the aid of the existing joint positions, either with expanding the Joint Hierarchy with adding new child objects while leaving the main hierarchy-flow untouched.

All the best

P.S.: this is a very simplified version, but I hope it presents the point well that I try to make.

Project file
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/SHhhXBH9i3c9EoHLuY4jg3uWpETjC9fmsE0E9bRREva

With PoseMorph, a lot of animation is possible, and it can be done quickly with a HUD interface.

One tip: the bounding box needs to be larger and fixed, so the whole snake doesn’t move when only some parts are supposed to move.

BTW, I have tested the files that I have had sent this morning with various meshes. I have updated the file with a simple mesh added.

All the best

Hi sinan.ortakcioglu2,

I wasn’t happy with the minimal control (orientation), so I explored MoGraph to give me the needed data for a stable Joint orientation.
The Matrix object is the ideal platform here.

This allowed me also to have a binding mode (while in Matrix> Linear mode) and an animation mode, when in Matrix>Object mode (splines+rail).

The Target Effector is set to look at Next Node. Up-Vector = +Z.

From there, Xpresso allows a simple transfer of the critical data, here used as Global-Matrix.

The Joints are now looking at the next down in Hierarchy, as they should.

The animation takes place with the Offset parameter from the Matrix Object.

Since you have asked for more than just follow the spline, I integrated one extra Joint [pair] as an example, that more is possible. (project file …_52.c4d)

Below is a rundown of the parts and a short visit of the Binding “mode.

Screen capture and Project files.
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/0623nhmWm4KVrZPQEdpQsj8Mj7WL9Bn3msjlM9k4dIl

If you click on the number (HUD) and drag, values can be set below and above what the slider allows.
Another Tip, the Plain Effector only set to rotation, allows with its R.B parameter to rotate the snake around its length axis.

I hope that works for you.

My best wishes.

Amazing information. Thanks for going in to trouble of making sample files. Greatly appreciated.

You’re very welcome, sinan.ortakcioglu2, thanks for the question!

It was certainly well spent time.

I have never had this question here.  I’m happy to have the version of post #3 now. What I love about this is the option to have a binding Position via menu (Linear/Object).

I hope it works well for your needs.

I wish you lots of success with your Project.