# Using The Interactive Curve Tools With Strand Builders

## Combining The Work Flow with Interactive Curve Tools&#x20;

The Interactive Curve Tools will greatly enhance your working experience when working with the Hair Strand Builders. &#x20;

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

It's highly <mark style="background-color:$success;">**recommended**</mark> that you take 3 minutes to install the Marking Menu to make this workflow even faster!

{% hint style="info" %}
Visit to learn more about [marking-radial-menu](https://nobraintools.gitbook.io/maya-groomers-tool/maya-tools/interactive-curve-tools/marking-radial-menu "mention")
{% endhint %}

***

## Sculpt

* Sculpt Brush LMB function, sculpts single strand, or multiple strands.

<figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FHfI6BASHOO2lsnoYJ8ic%2Fsculpt_brush_sculpt_normal.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=1ddfc652-514d-463f-91bc-037ce7fea8a8" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* CTRL + LMB - Root Snap a strand root to a defined base mesh. Duplicate a strand, and CTRL + LMB to move-to-snap a bit away from the original strand. Creating layers will be super easy and fun this way.

<figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FafuAS6DOjpr0xf3LEyVY%2Fsculpt_brush_sculpt_snapping.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=307196a7-92a3-48be-8801-5b5fb472425e" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* MMB to smooth out any uneven strands.

{% hint style="warning" %}
In Maya 2022, if you manually set to use Python 2, the smoothing function will not work 'smoothly'. Please consider upgrading to Python 3 (default)
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FkVCJ3OIPZxQjjJxQwINz%2Fsculpt_brush_sculpt_smoothing.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=b63b7c22-923b-4868-9d6d-b9fa7f75b373" alt=""><figcaption><p>MMB to smooth curves</p></figcaption></figure>

* With the Sculpt Brush active, now you can quickly adjust the scale and rotation/orientation of any tube/card strands!

<figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2F01jEYdYOrSRWyejo2jF1%2Fsculpt_brush_cards.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=9f0861a3-85fb-4703-a64a-009a67cbd527" alt=""><figcaption><p>You can quickly adjust the strands with the Sculpt Brush (SHFT + MMB (Rotate), or CTRL + MMB (Scale)</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FHTYVKCoEyH5wC7hIUqKD%2Fsculpt_brush_tube.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=aa6ee4c7-bca1-4ca3-a73c-7a075c0f0276" alt=""><figcaption><p>You can quickly adjust the strands with the Sculpt Brush (SHFT + MMB (Rotate), or CTRL + MMB (Scale)</p></figcaption></figure>

***

## Cut

* With the drag-cut tool, you can now create layers of strands very easily.&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2F5G7xCubZDV10Ufr2vAil%2Fsculpt_brush_sculpt_cut.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=d56513ab-864c-4f7b-9972-25be59de7115" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

## Attach

* Sample a section of the curve, and the sampled section will be attached to the end of the curve.&#x20;
* You may need to increase the subdivision of the strand to accommodate for the extended curve.

{% hint style="info" %}
Users have found usefulness on twisty, wavy, curly curves.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FO3Hyx4DnDqImc6QUPQcb%2Fsculpt_brush_sculpt_attach.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=46dd9c1c-f230-43bb-93f9-4ba35eabbe10" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

## Draw

* With the draw tool, you can also extend the hair strands the way you want it.&#x20;
* You may need to increase the subdivision of the strand to accommodate for the extended curve.

<figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FkcdLqMnfci2dftY43FRU%2Fsculpt_brush_sculpt_draw.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=81ef37c0-5fe0-4dbb-8ec5-8a8df36304ef" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

## Geometry Mode Support (Auto Curve Selection)

* When in  Geometry UV mode ![](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), geometries are displayed and curves are hidden. The Interactive Curve Tool requires curves to be visible to be function. As of V15.02, the tool will detect if it's a Hair Strand Builder strand, and automatically show/hide the curves.&#x20;
* You can select a strand, and trigger the curve by doing any of these:
  * Clicking on an icon in the Interactive Curve Tool UI,
  * Hitting the repeat last step hotkey (Maya Default is the "G" key on your keyboard),
  * Or through the Marking Menu&#x20;
* In geometry mode, existing an interactive tool will automatically hide the curve.

<figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FOneG4E0SV0pbPdwgVjH2%2Fsculpt_brush_sculpt_geometryMode.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=0f62aec7-f5c7-41ac-9c32-c4be32a33594" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

## Aim Curves

* The Interactive Tools will also work on the aim curve of strands. You can use it to quickly fix some problematic areas as shown in the [#use-given-normal](https://nobraintools.gitbook.io/maya-groomers-tool/maya-tools/aim-controls#use-given-normal "mention") page.

<figure><img src="https://454332562-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGyyK7o0fNRXvtva8vEkG%2Fuploads%2FeZTNvibJBNpPt3du7xSh%2FaimMode_aim_given_normal_fix_twist.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=f46229d1-7641-4cbe-9abd-5afc28abe9c5" alt=""><figcaption><p>Using the Interactive Sculpting Tool, we can fix both the strand curve, and the aim curve.</p></figcaption></figure>
