Building a bulging bicep
 

Hi there
well I'm still trying to make the "simple" man.
Project 4 > learning maya 3 for osX.
I have been able to bulge the muscle (half sphere) onto the arm with set driven key.(1&2)
Now i have to use the muscle as an influence on the arm,but I get this result:
Please help,this looks a very interesting technique,if i could only get it to work.

Try to use flexors - its preety simple.

OK,thought it might be helpfull to share my findings.
On page 323 of the manual choose:
s divisions to 2
t divisions to 5
u divisions to 3
and on page 330-331 where the muscle comes in,I attached a sculpt deformer on the armsurface instead of the halfnurb.
In front view press F8,select the points that normally would make the biceps.
choose :
Deform-create sculpt deformer.
Parent the deformer to the shoulder,so it moves with the arm.
From here the manual works again,I can move the IK handle up and the biceps will bulge because of the sculpt deformer.
not finished yet on this tutorial,might be back,let's hope not

Another way you can do this is by using Blend shape.

Duplicate the arm twice and on both model the biceps flexed position without using more CVs and then Blend shape. Then add that attribute to a locator then use Set Driven Key to set it to flex when elbow rotates.

The best way is always flexors

I will post for u an image late tonight for u to show u how it works

:)

That was like a month ago! :D

(still waiting though)