# Main UI

## Top Menu

* This is where you can access various functions.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2Fnm2Xb686yLhBVtaqREcr%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=9e9dccfa-fa06-4e78-a2b3-74db7dad7564" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

## Information and Refresh

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FhHTIt5Vx4wr1NJZLWfwN%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=1702c03d-f55e-4a15-9c01-100647a7d252" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### **Info Field**

* Displays the layer name of current selected curves. Only the string after the last '\_' will be displayed in the info box. For example, if you have a layer renamed as hair\_short, 'short' will be displayed.

### ![](https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2F9G10UmUQ7fq11RuX1H08%2FxgtRefresh_user.png?alt=media\&token=01d267c1-a09e-4f38-8825-798e60d2afee) **Refresh Button**

* Sometimes a layer is deleted or when a new Maya scene is opened, if you do not see the layers in the Main UI, try clicking on this button to refresh the layer list.&#x20;

***

## **Toggles and Creations**

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FGX7mAvRcLtD6l8IKAHHv%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=0bacaf9e-9d10-468d-bf63-771c3844eef9" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### ![](https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2Fyrpd2Bqe2vdHzv1YZ7HN%2FxgtToggleCrv.png?alt=media\&token=a7116d44-42ac-4286-b32f-9b90ced03c0d) Display Toggles

* Toggle display on strand geometry or curves.
* You can MMB click on this icon to reset the visibility state on selected, or all, if nothing is selected.

{% hint style="info" %}
Visit to learn more about [display-toggles](https://nobraintools.gitbook.io/maya-groomers-tool/maya-tools/hair-strand-builders/display-toggles "mention")
{% endhint %}

### ![](https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FSYIUPhcUY4z4QoLohqgy%2FxgtToggleIsolate.png?alt=media\&token=2933ed22-b70d-49a4-926f-7a21ad581b22) **Isolate Strand(s)**

* Isolate selected strands or layers.

### ![](https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FFWZ2hH5sE1sidcrVC8Kk%2FxgtToggleShader.png?alt=media\&token=f55f3eb0-7215-4f76-99b2-22f651dd3066) **Preview Shader Toggle**

{% hint style="info" %}
Visit to learn more about [shader-and-layer-relations](https://nobraintools.gitbook.io/maya-groomers-tool/maya-tools/hair-strand-builders/shader-and-layer-relations "mention")
{% endhint %}

### ![](https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FFh8Oz2f8T8Et88gPUHnh%2FxgtToggleLockGeo.png?alt=media\&token=be3a44ce-da64-4210-a9da-97f8d764cddc) **Geometry/Curve Selection Mode Toggle**

* When lock is green ![](https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FmMSKsWv5DwBwzT4yXCEO%2FxgtToggleUnlockGeo.png?alt=media\&token=fcb6a3f1-9834-4849-92cb-affb07cf14c2), geometry selection mode is active.
  * activating geometry selection mode will allow you to view UVs easier in the UV editor.
* when lock is red ![](https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2F8mi56tPCCDnPb6NKQcKr%2FxgtToggleLockGeo.png?alt=media\&token=eebe20f0-d52d-48c8-aab1-b8d2abdeda13), curve selection  mode is active.

### ![](https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FXFMwZuUvq9soUYKkaNU9%2FxgtTogglePFXDraw.png?alt=media\&token=a954cd48-8831-49ac-8807-03407879c583) **PFX Draw Tool**

* Opens the PFX Draw UI that allows drawing with a strand preset.

{% hint style="info" %}
Visit to learn more about [draw-strand-tool](https://nobraintools.gitbook.io/maya-groomers-tool/maya-tools/hair-strand-builders/draw-strand-tool "mention")
{% endhint %}

## **Create**

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FAOTQAtPmC6Yi9JLiUkJy%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c72a4755-9c4f-4d39-906d-919cbbbfd51c" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

* When curve(s) are selected, clicking on this button will create a new layer and a strand will be created.
* When multiple curve(s) are selected, you will be prompted to choose either create one layer for all curves or, a separate layer for each curve.
* When nothing is selected, clicking on this button will create an empty layer.

## **Strand Editor Button**

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2F2gB9fAYN0N7X5JQtzzOj%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=cca3b09a-47ae-4b85-b50a-63899eebfc6a" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

* This is the main control window for selected strands.    &#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
Visit to learn more about [strand-editor](https://nobraintools.gitbook.io/maya-groomers-tool/maya-tools/hair-strand-builders/strand-editor "mention")
{% endhint %}

***

## Main Functions

{% columns %}
{% column width="50%" %}

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2Fc5kUNS9pULwtRbFrcPHG%2Futility_bar.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=fd3e9764-1a0d-407b-872c-6c46f76c96cc" alt=""><figcaption><p>"Tube" Builder Main Functions</p></figcaption></figure></div>
{% endcolumn %}

{% column width="50%" %}

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2Fw0chD40ZovMLJzTPCc1F%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7a2281fc-f318-4c37-8e8f-e7b4d1c918dd" alt=""><figcaption><p>"Card" Builder Main Functions</p></figcaption></figure></div>
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}

### **Copy**

* Select a curve (or strand geometry if in geometry selection mode) to copy the curve settings.

### **Paste**

* After a strand or (strands) is copied, '**Left Click**' on the Paste button will display several pasting functions.&#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
Visit to learn more about [copy-paste](https://nobraintools.gitbook.io/maya-groomers-tool/maya-tools/hair-strand-builders/copy-paste "mention")
{% endhint %}

### **Duplicate**

* Select curve, (or strand geometry if in geometry selection mode) and click on this button to duplicate the strand. Duplicated strand will be put in the same layer as the original selected curve.

{% hint style="info" %}
Visit to learn more about [duplicate-mirror-and-flip](https://nobraintools.gitbook.io/maya-groomers-tool/maya-tools/hair-strand-builders/duplicate-mirror-and-flip "mention")
{% endhint %}

### **Mirror (Flip)**

* **Left-click** on the Duplicate button will give you the option to mirror or flip across x, y, or z.

{% hint style="info" %}
Visit to learn more about [duplicate-mirror-and-flip](https://nobraintools.gitbook.io/maya-groomers-tool/maya-tools/hair-strand-builders/duplicate-mirror-and-flip "mention")
{% endhint %}

### **Deformers:**

{% hint style="info" %}
Visit to learn more about [deformers](https://nobraintools.gitbook.io/maya-groomers-tool/maya-tools/hair-strand-builders/deformers "mention")
{% endhint %}

### **Smoothing (Tube Only)**

* Enables the strand subdivision preview on selected strand curves. (This is the same function as hitting the default Maya hot key 3). This function is for previewing the tube strands if you have crease geometry set.
* If you are on geometry selection mode already, simply hit 3 will do.

### **Orient (Card Only)**

* Select strands first, and shift select a base mesh, click on Orient. The tool will automatically set the rotation values so the cards are properly oriented to the base mesh.&#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
Adjust the "Orient Sample Distance %" in the Scene Presets Menu to change the location on the strand curve where orientation references are sampled.
{% endhint %}

### **Normalize**

* Run a smooth operation to selected curves  (or strand geometry if in geometry selection mode) so the CVs on the curves will be more evenly spaced out.

### **Delete**

* Cleanly delete selected strands.&#x20;

{% hint style="warning" %}
To delete a strand, use this button instead of your keyboard's 'delete' key.
{% endhint %}

***
