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FloydBishop
08-06-2002, 03:10 PM
Hey gang,

Does anyone know how I can create a bunch of cards that are connected to and move with a surface? I'd like to be able to make a shader with an alpha and apply that to a card that is stuck to a surface. This could be used for fish scales, bird feathers, fur (this techniques was used in "Ice Age"), etc.

Can someone walk me through it in Maya? I don't want to go the Paint FX route, due to rendering times, interaction with other scene geo, etc.

Thanks!!

For bonus points: Can you make the ends of the cards move but still have the base of the card attached to the main geo? The effect could be like feathers blowing in a breeze? If you could explain this to me, then you rock!! :buttrock: If you give me a sample scene file to dissect, then you REALLY rock!!:buttrock: :buttrock:
Chappo
08-06-2002, 03:22 PM
hmmm..how about constraining duplicated poly or nurbs objects to the main surface, and then apply simple dynamics on those objects for natural movements ?

Mainpoint here is... constraints

For feather and stuff.... i guess you will have to use fur on that..and then constrain the feather or duplicated feathers objects to the main surface.

not sure if these are the most handyist options, as i am just a medium maya user :)

but it seems the most logical thing , right ??
Houkah
08-06-2002, 03:34 PM
just set up your pivot point at the base of the card and do constrain>geometry. That'll constrain that pivot to the surface of whatever geometry u choose.
svenip
08-06-2002, 04:54 PM
what about the particle method with particle instancer ?
FloydBishop
08-06-2002, 05:13 PM
Originally posted by svenip
what about the particle method with particle instancer ?

Could you elaborate? I don't know the method you are referring to.
svenip
08-06-2002, 05:18 PM
randomly create particles over the surface with goals and expressions. then go with the replacer and replace the particles with whatever you want. little bit adjusting to make sure that they get te tangency of the surface.
svenip
08-06-2002, 05:21 PM
http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11885&highlight=particles

http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10803&highlight=particles
FloydBishop
08-06-2002, 05:22 PM
Originally posted by svenip
randomly create particles over the surface with goals and expressions. then go with the replacer and replace the particles with whatever you want. little bit adjusting to make sure that they get te tangency of the surface.

Care to post a quick tutorial for those of us who learn best by seeing the thing in action??:eek:
svenip
08-06-2002, 05:31 PM
did you get enough info out of the posts i gave you ?
FloydBishop
08-06-2002, 06:27 PM
Originally posted by svenip
did you get enough info out of the posts i gave you ?

I'll have to check those out. I must have posted my reply before you posted your reply.
Razvan
08-07-2002, 07:47 AM
I'd like to be able to make a shader with an alpha and apply that to a card that is stuck to a surface.
you can use sprites particles with an image (that's what they are for ... you can't see them unless you map an image file), animated with dynamics.
Can someone walk me through it in Maya?
I'm sure you don't need that :p ... or I'm to lazy to do it .... or ... :)
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