Notes on Blend Shapes!

How to make blend shapes:

1.  Make a model. Freeze transformations and delete history.
2. Check your pivot point position (hold D or X.)
3. Duplicate that model (command D) (A duplicated model becomes your TARGET/KEY POSE!)
4. Make changes to the vertices of that model (vertex mode)
5. Highlight the duplicates, then click the original last. 
6. In your Animation MENU:  Anim Deform —> Blend Shape.
1. Blend shape options:
2. Check Inbetweening: sets all of your poses to different transitions on the same animation.
7. To view/edit/animate your transformations:  Windows-Animation Editors —> Blend Shape
8. To view Playback: make use of the dope sheet as well! Shows keying on all objects!

Ways to edit blend shapes:

A. Setup #1: Use wireframe on shaded to help see vertices and edge loops.

•  Common mistake, picking a single point and moving it.
• (WHAT YOU WANT TO DO: Take into account the “skin" of your character! Grab multiple points and move together!
• Make it fold, make it compress! As an easy example, look at the wrinkles and bulges that are folded when you bend your fingers!

B. Setup # 2: A good idea to change mesh with smooth mesh preview off!

*note may want to add extra edge loops at joints for better bends.

D. Setup # 3: In outliner: Want to make a folder just for your blend shapes!  Can make a Blend Shapes Targets Folder!

E. Tools to use:

• Soft Modification Tool
• Hit the B key: can switch from selecting choice points to selecting a general area! (yellow, most pull —> red: medium pull —> black: least pull)
• hold down B key: can increase and decrease falloff radius!

• Mesh —> Sculpt Geometry Tool
• Lets you use a brush to do more organic sculpting.
• NOTE:
• Options:
• A Push
• B Pull
• C Smooth
• D Option 4: Relax Good for relaxing and averaging out verticess.
• E Pinch
• F Erase