Paint FX to Curves

Overview

The PaintFX to Curves tool allows you to create Maya PaintFX strokes, and then convert them to Maya curves for quick blocking of a guide pass.

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Base Mesh

• Create UV

  • Duplicate a geometry, and click on Create UV button to start painting. I recommand doing the PFX paint on a duplicate mesh as the tool will perform an Automatic UV and delete history on the selected mesh.

Paint

• Paint Mode

  • Paint Effects - This mode will allow you to paint curves with Maya's default paint effect strokes. Some users prefer this way as it can take in your tablet pen pressure, making it feels more artistic. Upon existing the UI, you will be prompted to convert the PFX strokes into curves.

    • Paint At Depth - Allows you to paint 'away' from the base mesh.

  

  Painting with PFX mode and Convert To Curve afterward

  • ​Auto Convert to curve - Each stroke will be automatically converted to Maya curve. Upon exiting the tool.

    • Target Length - Allow you to input a pre-defined length to painted curves.

    • Show Length - Displays the length of painted curve.

  

  Painting with Auto Convert To Curve mode
• Paint

  • Enter the PFX drawing mode.

• Convert to Curves:

  • Convert ‘all’ PaintFX strokes in the scene to Maya curves.

You can now re-enter the PFX tool anytime using the repeat last step key (default Maya's G key).

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Curve Rebuild

• Rebuild - A simple curve rebuild. Default degree is set to 3. To build a curve with total of 8 CVs, put a span of 5.

• Smooth - Smooths selected curves with the strength value.

• Average Curves - Scale the selected curves so they have equal length.

• Get Length - Get the 'average length' of selected curves.

• Set - Scales the selected curves so they equal the defined length in the field box.

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Volume Mesh

• Volume Mesh:

  • Select the mesh, and click on ‘Volume Mesh’. This will give you a handle. Select the Z axis (blue) and drag it to inflate the mesh to a desired distance.​

Create a Volume Mesh

• Re-Attach Control:

  • If you need to grab the handle again, select the Volume Mesh geometry in outliner (envelopeMesh), and click ‘Re-Attach Control’

​If the manipulator handle is missing after creating the Volume Mesh, delete the volume mesh (envelopMesh), ensure Construction History is enabled, and try clicking the button again.

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Curve Snap Controls​

Adjust the ramp curve to set the snap profile for selected curves. You can use the Slope/Curl/Semi Curl ramp preset.

• Snap Curves:

  • With curves selected (you can select the group node of curves as well), shift select the volume mesh, click Snap Curves to snap the curves to the volume mesh.

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Deforming Curves with Volume Mesh

• Wrap Curves To Mesh:

  • To shape curves using a volume mesh, first select all the curves. Then, while holding 'Shift', select the volume mesh. Click 'Wrap Curves to Mesh' to bind the curves to the mesh. You may use any mesh type, such as a sphere, if desired.

• Delete History/Reset Transform:

  • When you are done, select the curves, and the volume mesh, and click on ‘Delete History/Reset Transform’ to clean up.

Please make sure both the 'Curves' AND the deforming mesh are selected when deleting history. Otherwise, the curves may 'snap'.

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