Parenting control cluster problems

[hypergolica]

I have a human rig. I create clusters lets say around the corners of the mouth. I then try to parent the cluster to any one of the facial bones but when I move the rig the clusters stay put or they don't move "with" the face. Its a real pain. What am I not doing properly? I have tried everything I know of.

[failure]

turn on "relative" in the cluster attribs

[hypergolica]

I do beleive I have tried the "relative" option check box. If I remember correctly, when I check "relative", the cluster moves with the rig but it deforms the mouth. Do you have to change the pivot point of the cluster?

[failure]

Parent it directly to thee same transform node the deformed shape is parented.

[hypergolica]

Thank you for your time. I think I understand what you mean but maybe not. Could you perhaps offer a brief explaination?

[hypergolica]

Thank you for your time. I think I understand what you mean but maybe not. Could you perhaps offer a brief explaination?

[hypergolica]

Thank you very much for your time. I think I understand what you mean but maybe not. Perhaps you could offer a brief explaination?

[failure]

Parent the cluster to the objects it is deforming.

[gregs]

So you're saying you parent the cluster to the skinned geometry as opposed to a joint in the skeleton? Hmph! I didn't know that. I got things to work by grouping the clusters together and then making the group a child of the (in my case) head joint. Is there a reason to prefer the method you're describing?

[failure]

Well, it all depends on the rig.
The bottom line is; when you turn on 'relative' only local transformation of the cluster handle affects the deformation.

[hypergolica]

Interesting. I have not tried parenting the cluster to the skin geometry. I have however tried parenting the clusters to the head joint.....did not work well for some reason. Will get back to you about parenting to skin.

[failure]

However, I would prefer joint parenting. I see no reason for it to "not work well"

Try it on a simple 2-joint 1-sphere 1-cluster rig to get understanding of how it works in general. Then see how it can/should be applied to your rig. It might be possible that something else in your rig is indirectly causing the problems with cluster.

[hypergolica]

Bingo! Got it......it works! I made sure "relative" was checked in the cluster attributes then parented the cluster to the nearest bone tip. I tried parenting it to the skin mesh itself but that did not work well for me. All you guys are four aces. Thanks much.