Mouth modeling for animation

EsotericAgenda

I noticed almost everybody models the mouth closed, lips sealed. The problem I have with this, is that this way makes it more difficult to open the mouth for animation, such as using soft selection to move the upper lip away from the lower one without having the lower lip verts get dragged up too (and vice versa). So that makes me confused of how people manage to open the mouth and separate the lips without much difficulty.

The only option then for me would be to model the mouth abit open, but the problem with that is it makes it harder to follow referance as the jaw tilts down abit. Well thats a small problem I guess.

What I really want to know is how you would model a mouth for animation.

Like if you model the mouth closed, how do you open/separate the lips without difficulty.

And if you model with the mouth open, how much do you have it opened out, and if you wouldnt mind showing some images please.

Thanks

Neox

whatever software you use, edge distance should be in there to make it easier selecting only either the upper or the lower lip

EsotericAgenda

Ah how come I never noticed that! Makes it alot easier now

Thanks Neox

Mark Dygert

You can also weight the head to several helper bones like a jaw bone that way you're just moving a bone around every time you want to open the mouth. Then clone the mesh to make a new target shape.

EsotericAgenda

Thanks for the tip Vig