how to use empty to rig things?

i’m taking about things like this:



i can’t find those empties, and they are in bound (can’t move over a limited range)
or just things like this:

i’ve tried to do it, but it’s not working…
error code happens when i try to parent with mesh

These are probably bone with specific shape properties, can’t tell without seeing the file, but they don’t look like Empties.

Yeah, what you’re looking at in the second image is actually the rigify rig, which has bones displayed as custom shapes in pose mode (the first image looks different, those may just be mesh objects, in fact).


Nathan Vegdahl talks about how to use empties to rig things in his Humane Rigging DVD tutorials. InChapter 1, Video 2 he implements some squash and stretch features on a bouncy ball using empties. Not really sure you are asking about empties, since your examples show bone shapes. Can you clarify?