Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Turn your Photoshop PSD into a working puppet in Adobe Character Animator.
We create a new project, import the PSD, tag facial parts & visemes, then test in the Record panel.
You’ll place pins, add draggers, refine bends with sticks, and add hair physics with Dangle.
What you’ll learn
-Start → New Project workflow & where files live
-Rig panel tour: Project, Puppet, Properties, Tags, Behaviors, Handles
-Crowns (“+”) and independence; origin/attach points (weld vs hinge)
-Import PSD and Auto-sync with artwork for Photoshop/Illustrator updates
-Tag eyes, brows, blinks, visemes (mouth shapes) and fix left/right mapping
-Record panel basics: scenes, timeline, 1920×1080 @ 24 fps, scale & preview
-Add Pins to plant feet; Draggers for arms; refine with Sticks
-Rotate arms for cleaner bends; set origin to shoulder and attach correctly
-Group hair in PSD, make it independent, and add Dangle handles for physics
Course files & updates
🔗 Project/PSD files: udemy.com/course/rigging-and-recording-in-adobe-character-animator/learn/lecture/11957714#overview
🔗 Updated (2023) version of this course: udemy.com/course/animating-with-adobe-character-animator/learn/lecture/38261302#overview
🔗 Full playlist (all chapters): youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75fjdmpFwHGOqLdNML0Hhtin1N08RooC&si=KgeARU_SOwCvCB6G
Timestamps
00:00 Intro & course context (Udemy archive + updates)
00:38 Start tab overview & rig tab
08:07 Tags: face map, left/right reassignment, viseme mapping
13:23 Pins to plant feet (and why head/hand pins can look odd)
23:59 Record panel: make a Scene, timeline & playback controls
28:53 Draggers on arms (per-layer, not on root)
35:27 Rotate limbs (~26°) & adjust draggable/origin positions
39:49 Sticks to define elbow bends (front & back arm)
42:20 Dangle: group hair in PSD → replace source → add dangle handles
48:53 Conclusion and using the playlist to navigate chapters
About this series
Recorded in 2018 and well-reviewed on Udemy. I’m archiving it here because the fundamentals still help. I add update notes where tools changed and link to a refreshed 2025 version.
Support & next steps
👍 Subscribe & ring the bell for Chapter 3
💬 Comment which behavior you want deeper (Walk, Physics, Triggers)
📧 Business: troftgruben.com/contact
#adobecharacteranimator #characteranimator #rigging #animationtutorial #puppet
Turn your Photoshop PSD into a working puppet in Adobe Character Animator.
We create a new project, import the PSD, tag facial parts & visemes, then test in the Record panel.
You’ll place pins, add draggers, refine bends with sticks, and add hair physics with Dangle.
What you’ll learn
-Start → New Project workflow & where files live
-Rig panel tour: Project, Puppet, Properties, Tags, Behaviors, Handles
-Crowns (“+”) and independence; origin/attach points (weld vs hinge)
-Import PSD and Auto-sync with artwork for Photoshop/Illustrator updates
-Tag eyes, brows, blinks, visemes (mouth shapes) and fix left/right mapping
-Record panel basics: scenes, timeline, 1920×1080 @ 24 fps, scale & preview
-Add Pins to plant feet; Draggers for arms; refine with Sticks
-Rotate arms for cleaner bends; set origin to shoulder and attach correctly
-Group hair in PSD, make it independent, and add Dangle handles for physics
Course files & updates
🔗 Project/PSD files: udemy.com/course/rigging-and-recording-in-adobe-character-animator/learn/lecture/11957714#overview
🔗 Updated (2023) version of this course: udemy.com/course/animating-with-adobe-character-animator/learn/lecture/38261302#overview
🔗 Full playlist (all chapters): youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75fjdmpFwHGOqLdNML0Hhtin1N08RooC&si=KgeARU_SOwCvCB6G
Timestamps
00:00 Intro & course context (Udemy archive + updates)
00:38 Start tab overview & rig tab
08:07 Tags: face map, left/right reassignment, viseme mapping
13:23 Pins to plant feet (and why head/hand pins can look odd)
23:59 Record panel: make a Scene, timeline & playback controls
28:53 Draggers on arms (per-layer, not on root)
35:27 Rotate limbs (~26°) & adjust draggable/origin positions
39:49 Sticks to define elbow bends (front & back arm)
42:20 Dangle: group hair in PSD → replace source → add dangle handles
48:53 Conclusion and using the playlist to navigate chapters
About this series
Recorded in 2018 and well-reviewed on Udemy. I’m archiving it here because the fundamentals still help. I add update notes where tools changed and link to a refreshed 2025 version.
Support & next steps
👍 Subscribe & ring the bell for Chapter 3
💬 Comment which behavior you want deeper (Walk, Physics, Triggers)
📧 Business: troftgruben.com/contact
#adobecharacteranimator #characteranimator #rigging #animationtutorial #puppet
