What you'll learn

In this Maya tutorial, we will cover tools and techniques for curve-based facial rigging in Maya. We'll take the Facial Action Coding System approach of control muscles to mold facial expressions. Step by step, we'll construct a facial control rig that is robust, sufficient, and animator-friendly. We'll learn everything from how to deform a mesh by a curve's shape, to creating controls for those curves that will provide the animator with the functionality they need to create entertaining facial animations. We'll also learn how utilize nodes and expressions to automate certain components of our control rig. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have the fundamental knowledge you need to create your own curve-based control rigs that produce natural and appealing facial expressions. Software required: Maya 2011 and up.