Digital humans the art of the digital double
Ever wanted to know how digital doubles are created in the movie industry? This course will give you an insight into how it's done.
# 1 07-11-2009 , 09:11 PM
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2

Object snaps

Hi, here some questions from a newby.

Originally I'am an AutoCAD designer, and use to move objects with object snaps like endpoint, midpoint etc...

How can I move objects exactly, using object-snaps in MAYA like I did in autoCAD?

Is MAYA made for this kind of precise drawing-actions?

Thanks PR.

# 2 07-11-2009 , 10:38 PM
EduSciVis-er
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Toronto
Posts: 3,374
Don't know autoCAD, but there's a couple things that might work for you. When moving vertices, hold x to snap to grid, or v to snap to other vertices or c to snap to curves.

If you want to snap objects to each other, try selecting two objects and use the align tool (Modify > Align Tool). Then click the icons that appear around the bounding box that represent the type of alignment you want.

Hope that helps you out a bit.

# 3 07-11-2009 , 11:31 PM
Chirone's Avatar
Subscriber
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NZ
Posts: 3,125
also when you're using the x,c and v key, it snaps the pivot point to what you're snapping to.
hit insert to change the pivot point if you need to. you can also snap the pivot point to verts, grids, and curves

snapping also has different effects depending on whether you are in world or local mode.




that's a "Ch" pronounced as a "K"

Computer skills I should have:
Objective C, C#, Java, MEL. Python, C++, XML, JavaScript, XSLT, HTML, SQL, CSS, FXScript, Clips, SOAR, ActionScript, OpenGL, DirectX
Maya, XSI, Photoshop, AfterEffects, Motion, Illustrator, Flash, Swift3D
# 4 09-11-2009 , 06:27 PM
Perfecto's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TN (USA)
Posts: 1,889
I use AutoCAD as well. There is no snapping to center, end, etc like there is in AutoCAD but Maya does have the ability to make precise moves.

Mainly what everyone has already mentioned but sometimes you will also probably want to move your manipulator on your current object. You can do that by pressing the "Insert" button on your keyboard. That will allow you to relocate your manipulator.

For example, if you wanted to snap the corner of Cube A to corner of Cube B.

Step 1: Select Cube A, press insert, then snap the manipulator to the corner of the cube A. Press Insert again.

Step 2: Select Cube A and snap it to the vertex on the corner of Cube B.

There are also other ways to snap objects. You can create "Locators" and use those as snapping points. You can also create extra vertices on an object to snap to (but after snapping will probably want to delete the extra vertices).

Anyway, the Maya Help Files should have some more useful info about snapping.


Don't be satisfied with what you can do but rather strive to do the things you can't do!
Exceed Expectations!

Last edited by Perfecto; 09-11-2009 at 06:29 PM.
# 5 09-11-2009 , 07:06 PM
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2
Thanks for your help. All of you!
PR (the Netherlands)

Posting Rules Forum Rules
You may not post new threads | You may not post replies | You may not post attachments | You may not edit your posts | BB code is On | Smilies are On | [IMG] code is On | HTML code is Off

Similar Threads