Solution for Bones with Changed Names When Parenting in Blender
Working with rigs in Blender can be a rewarding experience, but sometimes bone names can change unexpectedly during the parenting process. If you've renamed bones in edit mode and then, when parenting, you see names like bone.028 or bone.016, Blender is probably not recognizing the original names correctly. Don't worry, there's a solution! 🦴
Check the Original Armature
First, enter Edit mode of the skeleton and check if those bone.028-style names are already present or if they only appear after parenting. This will give you an idea of whether the problem is in the original rig or in the parenting process.
Clean the Mesh's Vertex Group
Select the model and go to the Object Data Properties tab (triangle icon). Delete all Vertex Groups that have names like bone.0XX. This will clean up any old references that may be causing conflicts.
Apply the Armature with Empty Groups
Select the mesh first and then the rig, and do Ctrl+P > With Empty Groups. This will create the groups correctly according to the current bone names, ensuring everything is in order.
Rename Bones if Necessary
In Edit mode of the armature, check that the bone names are spelled correctly and reflect the corresponding side, for example, pierna.L or dedo01.R. Use .L and .R so that Blender recognizes the symmetry automatically. Clarity is key! 🔑
Assign Weights Without Errors
Once the groups are properly created, use Weight Paint or Weight Transfer from another model if you have a reference. This will help you assign the weights correctly without having to move each bone to see which vertex it affects.
By following these steps, you'll avoid the problem of bones with changed names and keep your sanity intact. And yes, Blender has a free spirit: if you don't clearly tell it who's who, it will give them names like they're part of a robotic boy band. Have fun rigging! 🤖