What does "Skinning Weights" mean?

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Skinning weights are important in computer graphics, especially in the animation of characters. They determine how much influence each joint or bone has on different parts of a character's mesh, which is like the outer surface that represents the character.

When a character moves, the skinning weights help the mesh bend and twist in a natural way, making the movement look smooth and realistic. If the weights are set up well, the character will appear to move fluidly, while poor weight distribution can lead to strange or awkward movements.

There are methods to create skinning weights automatically, which save time and effort compared to doing it by hand. These automatic methods usually need to understand the entire shape of the character and how its surface is connected. However, some traditional methods may struggle with open surfaces or can create problems when dealing with complex shapes.

New techniques have been developed to create skinning weights without relying on complex shapes or closed surfaces. These improvements make it possible to work on a wider range of models, ensuring quality animation even in challenging situations. This means animators can focus more on creativity and storytelling rather than getting stuck on technical issues.