Maya 2020 fundamentals - modelling the real world
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1
30-12-2003
, 03:20 AM
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Attaching items to a PaintFX Tree...
I am currently working on a project that requires me to animate a tree with fruit on it. I made a tree with PaintFX and animated it, but do not know how to attach anything else or constrain another object to the tree that it moves with tree as it swings around in the wind. Is there any way to do this, or possibly, some MEL method to place spheres (fruit) on the tree instead of flowers or buds? Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance,
-=Ralph=-
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2
30-12-2003
, 05:15 AM
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What version of Maya are you using?
This will make, or break my answer
hehe..
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3
30-12-2003
, 04:36 PM
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I am using Maya 5 Unlimited.
Thanks for helping!
-=Ralph=-
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30-12-2003
, 05:24 PM
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This also segway's nicely to Kurt's response to your animation question in another thread as well:
Simply convert your PFX tree to polygons
That simple
Then, using Kurts PERFECT idea of putting a lattice around the tree parts (or the whole tree, whichever) and animating the lattice by one of three ways:
1. Converting your lattice into a softbody, and effecting it with fields like turbulence and air/wind.
2. Keyframe your lattice over time by hand.
3. Keyframe the lattice animation using blend-shapes
Sounds like you are going to have a LOT of fun with this one, so good luck!
PS, converting the PFX tree to polys will allow you to attach your fruit etc. to it as well.
Tips for that:
-try placing particles by hand to exact spots where you want fruit to be, and instance fruit geometry to them
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30-12-2003
, 05:55 PM
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Those ideas are great, I'll start some tests!
But is there a way to replace the 'flower' or 'bud', in PaintFX into a different object via some sort of MEL technique? If I could do that, than I could save the time on going the soft body poly route, as the animation is inherent.
-=Ralph=-
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6
30-12-2003
, 07:02 PM
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hehe...
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30-12-2003
, 07:25 PM
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30-12-2003
, 09:12 PM
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hehe... j.k bud
Whoooo... THATS a tough one
By nature, we all know that PFX is a post-process.
By that, I mean that the Maya sw renderer renders the strokes AFTER everything else, AND over-top the image.
AND THAT SUCKS! ...on so many levels! hehe...
...but in the case of users with Maya 4.5 or earlier, I "thought" you could create a PFX tree, and get it to look, and act the way you like it, then, SOMEHOW, either parent a soft-body curve with "objects" attached/constraigned to specific particles that are close enough to where you want them, but that didn't work at all for me...
So, all I can think of is to create the tree from scratch in polys, and do the lattice trick
Sorry Nitro.
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9
31-12-2003
, 02:12 AM
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Good News!
I found a Q&A session with Duncan, the main A|W Brain behind PaintFX answering some questions, and thank god he answered this one. It is possible to attach a mesh to a PaintFX, BUT it would require massive scripting and alot of headaches. Luckily, someone asked how to make fruit on a tree, and he said that the only way is to use the texture channel on the flower node. I went straight to Alias's site and into their download's section and found GumBall Roses, a flower with sphere's at the top! Woo hoo! I attached the MEL file here for you to check out. Now of course the sphere's are actually 2d and within an IFF image (make sure you tell Maya the proper path as it wont find the image without your help, or at least I had to), but this method will work, I think (crossing fingers)!But I've hit a wall again...
I can't get this method to work within my tree model, although I've tried to copy the settings for the flower. I know I'm doing something wrong, so if you can tell me how to get a tree to display that image, that would be Grrrrrrreat.
I think the solution is around the bend.... :p
Thanks again for all your help,
-=Ralph=-