Adding vertices to already skinned objects

[mscott35]

Is there a way, as there was in Alias, to add a vertex to the cluster set of an already skinned object? I have this character that is already smooth skinned with the points already weighted and I want to add some definition to an area by subdividing a few polygons. This, of couse, then results in new vertices formed which do not belong to the cluster(s) of the skinned object. How do I then add them so they are part of the smooth bind and so I can weight them?

Thanks,
Scott

If this is impossible, that would be good to know too.

[serpent]

BEST is to RTFM on Smooth skin edit options (especially file:///C:/AW/Maya4.0/docs/en_US/html/UserGuide/CharSetup/SkinSmooth4.html#178485 ) .

[mscott35]

Right. Well, I did read about every one of those entries on that hypertext before without much luck. Now, when you say RTFM you would be saying...exactly what? And, I am still using 3.0, so the exact locale you sent me for info may or may not be valid. I believe it's the same, but this: "#178485" I have no idea about. Anyway, if you have any other insights or info or clarification, I would much appreciate it.

Thanks again,
Scott

_____

In reply to:
BEST is to RTFM on Smooth skin edit options (especially file:///C:/AW/Maya4.0/docs/en_US/html/UserGuide/CharSetup/SkinSmooth4.html#178485 ) .

[joojaa]

No, it might not be the same link but you might try the search feature. Anyways learn to read your online docs. I swear to god that i get the feeling that im the only one whos doing this in our company(atleast succesfully), and thats why I have a local reputation as a guru amongst my co- workers, but im not. Now if you realy learn to read the manual then you can become a "guru" too... Ill bet that you will get a raise too (Iknow i got one).

Also it helps you solve those pesky little probs in no time. Also by reading the manual you become more prficent in the app and your skill levell increases. And you get new ideas about things.

[torran]

I do not see a problem with just adding vertices, I just did that the other day without any problems. But if problem appears you can always move the action in the history list to the time before skinning, in that way you can "fool" maya to belive that you did it before skinning... Another way is just to export the skin weights, then detach the skin from the skeleton, add all the vertices you want, skin it again, import the weights, voila! you are done....

Torran........................

[scotta]

Maya3 doesn't let you add vertices to a skin cluster. The way I deal with this is to duplicate the mesh, add whatever I need, bind to skeleton, and use 'Copy Skin Weights'. Sometimes I need to tweak the weights of the new vertices, but most of the time they are set up correctly.

[mscott35]

Yes, well, actually I do read the manuals quite often. In fact, that is where I turn to first, then friends within the same field, coworkers, and, ultimately, this forum. However, sometimes the information contained within the manuals is too general to address the particulars of my specific situation. Or, if they do have the answer(s) somewhere, for one reason or another, where that information is eludes me. I routinely use the search feature of the html manuals. I use it, the library, the index, the global index and a host of online sites including the AW site. So I agree with you of the manuals importance, I just couldn't find exactly what I was looking for despite the fact I had done a search and had already visited the site the previous poster had graciously pointed me towards...nor other chapters within the manuals which I had read through.

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In reply to:
No, it might not be the same link but you might try the search feature. Anyways learn to read your online docs. I swear to god that i get the feeling that im the only one whos doing this in our company(atleast succesfully), and thats why I have a local reputation as a guru amongst my co- workers, but im not. Now if you realy learn to read the manual then you can become a "guru" too... Ill bet that you will get a raise too (Iknow i got one).

Also it helps you solve those pesky little probs in no time. Also by reading the manual you become more prficent in the app and your skill levell increases. And you get new ideas about things.

[mscott35]

Thank you! That is what I needed to know. I figured I would end up having to duplicate and copy, but I was wondering whether there was a less cumbersome workaround shortcut like I had found in Alias PA.

'preciate it,
Scott

[joojaa]

Umm, yeah its a bitch to search for something NOT in the manual. Anyways, it seems to me like AW decided that such a function is good to have as they implemented it in Maya 4.

[mscott35]

Alrighty then, I am somewhat humbled right now. While searching for something else in the manual yesterday, I came across using the membership tool. After a few tries I got it to work (also tried using the relationship editor in conjunction with graphing up and downstream connections in the hypergraph and moving the smooth node to a position before the skinning node as suggested, which worked as well...and even tried modifying the origShape in the hypergraph...also worked) All along, I had had success actually getting a new vertex into an already existing smooth skin cluster, but I still couldn't get it to show up with any weighting in the component editor, so I thought I wasn't doing something correctly. Anyway, this time, using the membership tool, I got the verts to show up in the component editor and simply had to add a weight to them, say under the waist or leg or whatever joint I had set up and voila! Worked. So, I appreciate everyone's help...except the poster who replied to RTFM, which was rude and hurtful, not to mention that the html page he pointed me to was the wrong page. Anyway, thanks.