> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://nobraintools.gitbook.io/maya-groomers-tool/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://nobraintools.gitbook.io/maya-groomers-tool/maya-tools/interactive-curve-tools.md).

# Interactive Curve Tools

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/Kdemvf3Zr0U>" %}

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/7hVvA6m52lmMU433GNMJ" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

## Overview

The Maya Interactive Curve Tools can be coupled with many other tools in the Groomer's Tool ​ (Such as Hair Tube/Card Builder, Braid Builder, and our Proxy Managers (Curve to Cards/Tubes/Curl/Twist/Braid)

***

## Menu

Contain options for adjusting display color, reset stored UI values, install marking menu, etc.

<figure><img src="/files/F8VJ8T10tiwfjOWmnu3q" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Tool Settings

Under Menu -> Tool Settings, you will find all the Performance and Color Settings for the Interactive Curve Tools

<figure><img src="/files/e30ZCJsQI8NkwtSDdnBJ" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### **Preview Performance**

**Hover Display Path**

* Controls how many preview curve paths ICT (Interactive Curve Tool) is allowed to draw while you hover over the curves. Higher values show more of the affected curves in dense areas. Lower values keep the viewport lighter and more responsive in heavy curves zones.

**Backface Max Tests**

* Controls how many visibility checks ICT can run when Backface Culling is enabled. Higher values give more complete hidden-surface filtering on dense grooms. Lower values can make hover previews faster, but some curves behind the base mesh may still appear in the preview.

#### **Color Settings**

**Brush Circle Color**

* Sets the color of the brush radius circle in the viewport. Use a color that stands out clearly against your model and guide curves.

**Sculpt Preview Falloff Color**

* Sets the color ramp used by Sculpt preview to show influence strength. By default, strong influence near the center appears red, medium influence appears yellow, and soft outer falloff appears cyan.

**Hover Curve Color**

* Sets the color of curves highlighted under the brush before an action is applied. This is the general “these curves are being targeted” preview color.

**Cut Segment Color**

* Sets the color of the curve section that Cut is about to remove.

**Attach Segment Color**

* Sets the color of the curve section that Attach is about to reconnect.

**Root Color**

* Sets the color of visible root markers, mainly used by tools like Sculpt and Move to show which curve roots are being protected or targeted.

***

## Marking Menus

You no longer require manual moving files when installing Marking Menus. Simply go to Menu-> Install Marking Menu

<figure><img src="/files/C7ZxRZAdBg5R9yk9Ac0o" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

When the Marking Menu file is successfully installed, you will see this window. Click on Assign Hotkey to bind a key to it.

<figure><img src="/files/2QZn43YBTwXJcdVSBki1" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

In the Hotkey Editor, enter 'XGTC', all Groomer's Tool's Marking Menu will appear in the window

<figure><img src="/files/w5nGW9qKKYDbvl3ntcfz" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Choose a hotkey in the 'Press', this should automatically assign the same hotkey on the 'Release' item. Click Save and Close.

To use it, hold down your **hot key + LMB** in the viewport.

<figure><img src="/files/yC1H4Ihp6rOnRuZjO9SV" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

## Base Mesh

<div align="center"><figure><img src="/files/X38FMUxHXbPAW1FY4t3g" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

When a geometry is set in this field, the Sculpt, Add, Draw, and Move tools will ‘only’ use this geometry as reference, and will ignore operations on other geometries.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Please **freeze transform** on the base mesh to avoid errors.
{% endhint %}

***

## Tools

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/7hVvA6m52lmMU433GNMJ" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### **Sculpt**

\
There are **two** initial states:\
1\. **Curves selected:**

* When there are curves selected, all sculpting operations will only be applied to the selected curves.

2\. **No curves selected:**

* When there are no curves selected, only the curve that is 'closest' to the first cursor click will be sculpted

#### **Tool Settings**

<figure><img src="/files/CXx4OWOPe2tSGu2kKrUE" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Lock Root**

* Locking the root of the curve so the root would always stay in position.

**Lock Root Field Box**

* Determines the CV # to be locked.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Lock Root Field can have an effect to smoothing. Try setting the CV # field to 0 so smoothing can be applied to all CVs on selected curves.
{% endhint %}

**Lock Length**

* Locking curve length during sculpt.&#x20;

**Retain Root Snap Curvature**

* Keeps the root shape while root snapping.&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/vDDVKSpk3DeWt5gh3TP9" alt=""><figcaption><p><strong>Retain Root Snap Curvature</strong></p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
If curve root jumps to random places, chances are that there are transform values. Check your curves, or groups and make sure there are no transforms.
{% endhint %}

**Backface Culling**

* ICT ignore curves that are hidden behind the assigned Base Mesh from the current camera view. When it is enabled, the tool tries to work only on the visible side of the groom.

**Smooth Strength**

* Intensity of the Smooth operation (MMB). If your curves are going wild at an angle, it could be due to low amount of CVs on your curves. Try rebuilding your curves to increase the CV counts.

#### **Falloff Settings**

<figure><img src="/files/V79xhj14A1KBKt9s7Sul" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Falloff Mode**

**Volume**&#x20;

* Default sculpting behaviour.

**Precision**

* Follows connected curve sections from the closest CV. Best for coils, spirals, and overlapping curves.

**Falloff Multiplier**

* Default of 1 works in most cases. Adjust the falloff multiplier to increase or decrease section of affected curves.&#x20;

**Falloff Ramp**

* Determines the gradient falloff, for complete rigid sculpt, remove the 2nd knob so it's flat.

#### **Tube/Card Settings**

<figure><img src="/files/ip6uWUUsFXvp7CdT3AhU" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Scale Strength**

* Strength when **CTRL + MMB** is used on Hair Strand Builders strands

**Rotation Strength**

* Strength when **SHIFT + MMB** is used on Hair Strand Builder strands

**Hide Geo While Dragging**

* Hide strand geometries during sculpt, this will allow faster feedback on Hair Strand Builders and GS Curve Tool Cards/Tubes.

**Normalize**

* Space out curve CVs along the curve.​&#x20;

***

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/m6ExaLbblAArTYLGAiT2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### **Add**

\
​Add curve by clicking on a mesh, the tool uses nearby curves as reference to create an in-between curve.\
Click on **Add** to enter sculpting tool

#### **Tool Settings**

**Use Average**&#x20;

* You can also choose to use the ‘Use Average’ option, which will create a curve using the average of all the nearby curves within the **Search Distance**. If you are using this option, make sure that the surrounding curves have the same CV for best results. This can be a better option to use if you wish to retain the ‘tip’ for a group of clumped curves.

**New Curve CVs**

* CVs of the curve created by using MMB.

**Drag Interval**

* Curves are populated while dragging the mouse, this determines how far away from the previous click to populate a new set of curves.

**Scatter Mode**

* Populate curves within the brush radius.&#x20;

**Scatter Density**

* \# Of curves to be created within the brush radius.

**Scatter Align to Face Normal**

* Whether or not curves to take the underlying face normal.

***

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/viCf7GkxhbedCeCyUQgc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### **Cut**

Cuts curve sections within the brush circle.

\
**Reverse Cut Direciton**

* Cut from root of the curve, to the brush circle highlighted region.

**Backface Culling**

* ICT ignore curves that are hidden behind the assigned Base Mesh from the current camera view. When it is enabled, the tool tries to work only on the visible side of the groom.

***

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/mQjdC8e2hoQU9RAEehaL" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### **Draw**

\
​To draw a curve, you will need a geometry as the base. Click on the geometry and start drawing

**Smooth Factor**

* When drawing a curve, a smooth factor is applied. Set this to 0 if you do not want any smoothing effect.&#x20;

***

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/ApNGCGcykNp9pWwac8oi" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### **Attach**

Cut and stitch the detached curve section to the tip of the original curve.

**Backface Culling**

* ICT ignore curves that are hidden behind the assigned Base Mesh from the current camera view. When it is enabled, the tool tries to work only on the visible side of the groom.

***

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/cUE1sH1KFlKVm95I8Dfn" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### **Extend**

\
​This is the same function as Maya's Extend Curve. However, you will have the ability to 'rebuild' curves after extension.<br>

**Extend Type**

* Choose between Linear, Circular or Extrapolate extension types. Linear will make a straight line, but can sometimes cause issues if you have a curve with CVs too close to each other on towards the tip. In this case you can use the Circular or the Extrapolate type, which will make the extension more 'rounded' or smoothed.&#x20;

**Extend Multiplier**

* This is the multiplier from the selected curve's length. Default of 1.01 means it will extend the curve by 1% on each click/drag operation.

**Rebuild CVs after Extend**

* As this tool is built around Maya's default curve extend function. As a result, there will be a lot of CVs on the extension. Turn this on to rebuild the curve on each extend operation for cleaner/smoother CVs.

**Backface Culling**

* ICT ignore curves that are hidden behind the assigned Base Mesh from the current camera view. When it is enabled, the tool tries to work only on the visible side of the groom.

***

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/C6qkBzgWrJn5jjCRyjPk" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### **Move**

\
Moves curves and maintain the root of selected curves on the geometry.

**Orient**

* Applies normal differences on curves when moving.

**Backface Culling**

* ICT ignore curves that are hidden behind the assigned Base Mesh from the current camera view. When it is enabled, the tool tries to work only on the visible side of the groom.

***

## Hot Keys

Hover on an ICT tool icon to display the hotkeys

<figure><img src="/files/BPr9zqlvaJb98Ax6GxbC" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

## Known Issues

* Maya 2027 can be slower when more curves are in scene, and when there is no initial selection before entering a tool.
  * **Workaround** - for multiple curve adjustments, please select them before entering an interactive curve tool, or hide curves thats not being worked on. (use Curve Color Tool)
* Existing or Entering tools can sometimes cause Maya to remember the hotkey that was exited (W, E, R), on mouse clicking opening up Maya’s Marking Menu.
  * **Workaround** - Go to object mode, or re-enter and exit the tool again to refresh it.
* Ghost Preview - Curve display does not match the current Maya curve position. This can happen when:
  * While in an Orthographic viewport, zooming in or out the camera while the brush circle still hovers on curves can cause those curve displays to ‘hang’ at the pre-zoomed position.
  * Any UI expansion/collapse that causes viewport size scaling.
  * **Workaround** - Alt + LMB to move the camera a bit, or, re-enter the tool.

***

## Legacy Interactive Curve Tool Document

{% content-ref url="/pages/ykAUXnRzOSXzlAEgNPfS" %}
[Interactive Curve Tools V1 (Legacy)](/maya-groomers-tool/maya-tools/interactive-curve-tools/interactive-curve-tools-v1-legacy.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


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