Is there a better way to select faces in Maya??

[DeathBrain]

Try MJ Polytools (http://www.maya3d.dk/Scripts/MJPolyTools/) from maya3d.dk
and there're also lots of polytools in here (http://www.highend3d.com/maya/plugins/) from highend3d.com :)

[SheepFactory]

edit -> paint selection tool


put this to a hotkey its just like the wings slection method.

[swag]

go to the preferences/selection
there u see polygon selection
center or whole face -
maya has a paint selection tool go to edit/paint selction tool
hope this help -

[orgeeizm]

gahh..i feel such a noob...thank you all.

im going to attempt and read the whole manual before i ask questions. bah

[orgeeizm]

Is there a way to only select the faces that I see and not the ones behind them that i DONT see?

NM. I found it. Now I just have to bind it to a hotkey.

[wrend]

there is a choyno raycast-select plug on highend3d too, probably only 4.5 compile tho.

[rock]

orgeeizm,

Where did you find the tool that select only faces or points that are seen?

[Jozvex]

Window > Settings/Preferences > Preferences

Then under Polygons set Backface Culling to On.

[rock]

Thanks Jorvex. I have trouble with the consistency of backculling before. I didn't like the paint selection method too much. That's why I thought there might be a different way.

I don't quite understand how backculling really works. In the viewport, I create a polygon cube, I marque to select the box in face mode. All the faces are selected including those that are unseen. I then turn on the backculling through the Shading->Backface Culling (checked). I marque to select the box again. But all the faces are still selected including the ones that are unseen.

I then turn on the backface in the preference->polygons->backface culling to on and also the Shading->backface culling (checked), marque the selection. Still the unseen faces are still selected.

It seems that the only way to make backface culling toggle is to restart Maya after changing the preference->polygons->backface culling properties. Can someone confirm what I had observed. I can't seem to make it toggle without restarting Maya.

Thanks.

[Electrofirma]

Shading->Backface Culling only stops the faces from being rendered. To make the backfaces unselectable you either need to go into Window->Settings/Preferences->Preferences... or Display->Custom Polygon Display.

I don't know exactly why this is, but I think it has to do with what level the faces are culled at. I think that if you choose culling in the viewport it simply hides the faces, but if you choose culling in the higher level options it only sends the visible faces to the viewport for display.

I'm sure there are holes in my logic, yet due to my ignorance of complex topics, I choose to not acknowledge them :scream:

EDIT: Wow, that's profound!

[Electrofirma]

Signature test!

[rock]

Electrofirma,

1. Thanks. The only time it really works for me without restarting Maya is when I use, as you said, Display->Polygon Custom Display option. This is the way to go. :thumbsup:

2. When I use Windows->Setting/Preference->Preference->Polygon, I always have to restart Maya for the backculling change to take effect.

3. When I use viewport Shading->Backface Culling, there seems to be no effect.

[wrend]

have a look at the heading in the prefs where you change it, and all shall be revealed. then figure that the custom poly display is only flipping culling flags on the mesh shapes, found in 'Mesh Comp Display'. viewport option is, as mentioned, just for ogl display purposes, and has no import on selection.

[Electrofirma]

When I use Windows->Setting/Preference->Preference->Polygon, I always have to restart Maya for the backculling change to take effect.

I haven't beat it around from all angles, but it appears that the preferences setting only affects new objects within the current scene.

EDIT: Yeah, Duh! Then I go and look at the heading like wrend said and feel stupid. :D

[sarfarazsoomro]

relief ! :applause: :applause: :applause:

[rock]

We are all getting more knowledgeable each time. Even though we know now the difference, Alias should clean up these and other parts to make them simpler, clear and undeniable to new users. Thanks for all the replies.

[orgeeizm]

Thank you all that replied. It has really helped me alot. Now i dont have to zoom in or go in wireframe just to be able to select a face by its center point. My workflow has sped up. Thank you all :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Jozvex]

Aww wrend you beat me to it!

I was gonna mention that in my previous post but I forgot about all that.

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