Hi there, Im new to Maya, Ive been doing 3D in Cinema4D for 5 years, so Im trying to find my way into Maya.
But, if someone could help me with this Ill be very happy.
Ive tried to use the EP curve tool to make a curve I later want to extrude. If I use the settings 1, it get rather squared lines. This is ok. But I want just 1 of the points to react softly. So hard edges all around and then 1 curve really rounded. I cant find out how convert it to a higher degree and I cant find any handles so I can soften it.
There is a tool in the Edit Curve menu to "Insert Knot". This gives you the option of increasing the multiplicity of the new knot. What that means is that the c.v. will make a sharp corner.
What you could do to achieve soft and hard c.v.'s on the same curve is to build a very simple curve and then add knots where you want them choosing whether they will be hard (multiplicity value of 3) or soft (multiplicity value of 1).
This will work on either an ep curve or a cv curve. In order to insert a knot, right click on the curve and choose "curve point" then left click on the curve and drab the red dot to the spot you wish to insert the knot. Then invoke the "Insert Knot" tool and choose your desired options.
Also theres a mel command to change the mutiplicity of selected knots... in case you need curved surfaces and sharp corners randomly with the knot you allready have!
if you attached mixed deg crvs, then the lower deg crvs keep their shape, and cvs are added to make 'em of the higher deg.
theres a script here (dagProc mod) that allows you to change the degree of your crv on the fly during creatn (well, just swaps the tool setting and builds new crvs), and will attach together all your crvs as oen at the end.
this is really only of value if your interest in hard edges/spans. look to the above pointers for pointing points (wonder if i can point at any other pointed point points .... enuf!, sorry).