Transform Constraints – Blender 2.80 Fundamentals

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This tutorial is part of the Blender Fundamentals series, produced by Dillon Gu.

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Transform Constraints in Blender #

Transform constraints in Blender are used to limit or control the movement, rotation, and scale of objects or bones in a rig. These constraints allow you to create relationships between different parts of a rig, automate certain movements, and achieve complex, realistic motion with ease. This guide will discuss some of the most commonly used transform constraints in Blender, along with examples of how they can be applied in rigging and animation.

Common Transform Constraints #

Here is an overview of some frequently used transform constraints in Blender:

1. Copy Location: The Copy Location constraint allows one object or bone to copy the location of another object or bone, either completely or partially. This constraint can be useful in cases where you want to keep two objects aligned, such as attaching a prop to a character’s hand.
2. Copy Rotation: The Copy Rotation constraint forces an object or bone to copy the rotation of another object or bone. This constraint is particularly helpful in rigging mechanical objects with interconnected parts or synchronizing the rotation of multiple elements in a rig.
3. Copy Scale: The Copy Scale constraint makes an object or bone match the scale of another object or bone. This can be used to ensure consistent scaling across a rig or to create automated scaling effects.
4. Limit Location: The Limit Location constraint restricts an object or bone’s movement to a specific range along the X, Y, or Z axes. This can be used to prevent unwanted movement or to create motion boundaries for specific parts of a rig.
5. Limit Rotation: The Limit Rotation constraint restricts an object or bone’s rotation along the X, Y, or Z axes. This constraint is valuable for ensuring that parts of a rig don’t rotate beyond a desired angle or range, avoiding unnatural movement.
6. Limit Scale: The Limit Scale constraint constrains an object or bone’s scaling along the X, Y, or Z axes to a specific range. This constraint is useful for controlling the scale of specific elements in a rig, preventing them from becoming too large or too small.
7. Child Of: The Child Of constraint allows you to create a parent-child relationship between two objects or bones, without actually parenting them in the object hierarchy. This constraint is particularly useful when you want to temporarily create a connection between two parts of a rig, such as a character grabbing a prop.

Applying Transform Constraints #

To apply a transform constraint to an object or bone in Blender, follow these steps:

1. Select the object or bone you want to constrain in the 3D viewport.
2. Navigate to the Properties panel and click on the Constraints tab (indicated by a chain icon).
3. Click the “Add Object Constraint” or “Add Bone Constraint” button (depending on your selection) and choose the desired constraint from the list.
4. Configure the constraint settings as needed, such as specifying the target object or bone, setting limits or axes, and adjusting influence.

Transform constraints are invaluable tools in Blender for rigging and animating complex scenes. By understanding the various constraints available and how they can be applied, you can create more sophisticated and dynamic rigs, while also simplifying the animation process. Experiment with different combinations of constraints to achieve realistic and intricate motion in your Blender projects.