Build a rig: bones and attaching artwork

A rig is a chain of bones that carries your artwork: turn a bone and everything attached to it turns with it. Draw the bones over the artwork, chain them at the joints, then attach each part to its bone.

Step by step

1. Pick the Bone tool

   Press B. The Bone tool is in the bones button of the tools on the left: hold it to see the other bone tools.

2. Draw the first bone

   Drag on the canvas from the shoulder to the elbow. A bone turns around its joint, where you started, and ends at its tip. It appears in the Layers panel as Bone 1.

3. Chain a second bone

   Start the next drag on the round tip of Bone 1, at the elbow, and drag to the wrist. A bone started on a tip is chained to it: Bone 2 hangs on Bone 1 and moves with it.

4. Pick the Bind tool

   Hold the bones button in the tools on the left and pick Bind tool. It attaches layers to bones.

5. Attach the upper arm

   Click the upper arm, then click Bone 1. In the Layers panel the upper arm moves into Bone 1; on the canvas it stays where it is.

6. Attach the forearm

   Click the forearm, then click Bone 2. Bone 2 hangs on Bone 1, so the forearm follows both.

7. Try the rig

   Press V for the Select tool and drag Bone 2 around the elbow: the forearm turns with it. Drag Bone 1 and the whole arm turns at the shoulder.

Keys