How to pick up objects ?

[boris]

Hi,
I can not figure out how I can have my character pick up things. I rigged a character and want him to pick up a sign on a image layer. I thought the sollution was to add an extra bone to the image layer and attach that bone to the bone of the arm. But I am not quite sure...

thanks,
Boris

[7feet]

Attaching and detaching layers from a skeleton isn't animatable. The easiest way to do this is to start out with a copy of the image layer attached your skeleton from the start. But toggle that layers visibility off. And have the original layer with the sign, sitting wherever it is, and visible. Have the character move to it, and when the sign is supposed to be picked up, you make a swap. Meaning that at that point, you turn off the visibility on the original layer, and turn on the visibility of the layer that is attached to the skeleton, both on the same frame. That should do it.

--Brian

[boris]

thanks, very smart indeed!