Rigtext

Rigtext is a hypothetical markup language designed for specifying the skeletal structure and rigging of 3D models. Its primary purpose is to provide a standardized and efficient way for artists and developers to define bone hierarchies, joint orientations, skinning weights, and animation controls within a scene. Rigtext aims to be human-readable and easily parsable by software, facilitating interoperability between different 3D content creation tools and game engines.

The language would typically involve a declarative syntax to describe the relationships between different parts of a rig. This could include defining parent-child relationships for bones, specifying joint limits, and associating vertices of a 3D mesh with specific bones through influence weights. Advanced features might include support for custom properties, control curves, and IK/FK blending mechanisms.

The development of a language like Rigtext is driven by the need for consistency and automation in the complex process of character rigging. By separating the rigging data from the geometry and animation data, it allows for easier iteration and modification of rigs without affecting other aspects of the 3D asset. Its adoption would streamline workflows in game development, animation production, and virtual reality applications.