How To Make Character's Head Turn On Rotation In Place

[Diana1d1]

Hi there :),

Thank you for your help.

I'd like my lizard's head turn on a rotation as shown in the second photo left and right. What modifiers should I pin to do this?

Currently, it is bending the body and moving, which I am not looking for it to do.

Thanks in advance!

Diana

In Photoshop, how I would like the lizards head to turn left and right to my face's position

[TheOriginalGC · Accepted solution]

To make the head rotate independently of the body, click on the independent icon (crown icon) next to the head layer. Turning the head left and right as you move your own head in those directions requires separate views of the head (facing quarter left, quarter right and so on) and linking them with the proper views in rigging. It's a bit more complicated as each view requires its own set of eye and mouth layers.

[Diana1d1]

Thanks a lot! I watched some video tutorials on the quarter turns, I'll look for a puppet that has it. I should be able to figure that out.

Alternatively, can this be achived easier with the dragger feature without my heads turn?

Thanks again,

Diana

[TheOriginalGC]

You can apply the dragger to anything, but unless it's part of a limb (using inverse kinematics), it won't rotate. Your best bet is an independent head with the pivot in the center.

[Diana1d1]

Got it. Thanks!

[Diana1d1]

Can you explain what you mean by pivot in the center? - "Your best bet is an independent head with the pivot in the center." Put a pin down and change it to fixed with a dangle pin on the outside to manually turn the head?

I understand how to make a layer/group independent with a star icon.

[TheOriginalGC]

In this case, the part rotates around the origin point, seen by the circle with the green dotted line attached to it. Move that circle (drag it) to the center of your object to make the pviot point your origin point.

[Diana1d1]

Thanks. I am working on a different animal. I have the greendot in the center, but unsure how to get the dotted line.

When I move my head it doesn't connect. 

Just trying to get his head to rotate smoothly without it unattaching or warping his body. 

Thanks!!

[TheOriginalGC]

So far I have been unable to get my characters to do both. When the head is set to independent, it will detatch. When it is not, there's a good chance that the head and/or body will warp. It's a fine balance. Don't worry about the dotted line. If you're not seeing it, you're doing it right.