Using CAT -- Part 1 - Preset Rigs

Level: Intermediate
Recorded in: 3ds Max 2011
Files used: http://areadownloads.autodesk.com/wdm/3dsmax/HTM-CHR_CAT.zip
Description: Character Animation Tools, or CAT, is a character-animation plug-in for 3ds Max. It facilitates character rigging, nonlinear animation, animation layering, motion-capture import, and more. In this first movie of the series, you get a basic understanding of how CAT works, from creating and editing preset rigs, fitting them to a given mesh and generating a walk cycle to test your work.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Autodesk
• 3d
• 3ds
• max
• design
• tutorial
• howto
• how
• to
• CAT
• character
• animation
• tools
• rig
• rigging

[Gam3r48]

I don't have CAT :(( Where to download it?

[3dsMaxHowTos]

@Gam3r48

CAT is part of 3ds Max 2011 and 2012, you shouldn't need to download it.

Maybe you are using an older version of 3ds Max, in which case you may need an upgrade.

Cheers.

[Munrid]

As I put the rig "into" the mesh I can not see it :(

[3dsMaxHowTos]

@Munrid Select the mesh and press Alt+X to turn XRay mode on. The mesh becomes transparent and you will be able to see the CAT skeleton inside.

[Norfilmshowroom]

I have used another model than the humanoid, but similar. Everything looks fine until i press the play button. Then the Cat rig moves but the model is still standing still. What could be wrong?

[3dsMaxHowTos]

@Norfilmshowroom

Did you skin your model to the CAT rig?

[willmundell3]

I have a problem when adding an absolute animation layer to my CAT rig. The top half of the rig seems to shoot down to 0,0,0 and the arms that were posed now end up in a completley random position, the only way round this i have found is to use an adjustment world/ local or even the walk cycle option. It just seems to be the absolute layer that is causing problems. any ideas would be welcome!

[noxaeXXX]

Looks sexy

[cnckitsplus1]

Thank you so much. This is Awesome

[Football1superstars]

@3dsMaxHowTos it is not in the max 2012...

[BedStuyBro]

Can someone please tell me how to move the Leg bone above the ankle without disturbing the position of the ankle during setup? Deselecting local Position doesn't seem to have an effect.

[Suprem3Gamer]

@Norfilmshowroom what you should do is select your mesh and then add a skin modifier from the modify list, after that scroll down on the skin modifier on the right and click Add bones, a screen will appear above shows the bones, check the display and make sure it's on display children, then select the bones by pressing ctrl+c, then press select.

[Suprem3Gamer]

@Munrid you can unable x-ray mode on the mesh, then you can easily see the rig, you can also hide the mesh by selecting it and then>> right click on the mouse>> hide selection.

[Suprem3Gamer]

I can't join a face rig with cat ! please help !!

[Suprem3Gamer]

and by the way, I can't use cat on characters such as robots and machines, can you provide and answer ? help !!!!!!

[Suprem3Gamer]

I'm having a problem with the rigging , I've set the cat rig just as you did , but I can't join the face rig with the cat, when I set the face rigging such as the eyes movement and expressions, the cat takes control and mixes up the other rigs, can you help me ?