Equivalent Of The 3dsmax Scatter Function

[jcarruthers]

Hi all,

I am new to Maya but not 3D modelling. Trying to migrate to Maya from Max.

Here is what I want to do - in max instructions...

1. Make a small sphere

2. Make a large geosphere

3. Select the sphere and make a compound Scatter object - using the geosphere as the distribution object.

Basically - I want to repeat an object over another objects vertices.

Rhino speak would be making an array over a surface.

If you imagine a sphere - or plane - with box or sphere at every single face.

Thanks all!

James

[gwelch]

personal favorite method is using the mel script "f3dDuplicatorX.mel" found on highend3d. CAn stick to vertices or faces or edges... and orient the instances, randomly shift them, its great.

http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/me...atorX-1287.html

Another approach is to use particles, making your target shape a goal object for the particles and instancing your object to the particles, and using the particle goal normal to orient instances. or make your goal shape a soft body (same idea as particles with goals) and use instances for particles. You can "bake" your instances if need be with "nimble tools" uninstancer, also found on highend 3d.

http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/pl...ancer-4331.html

[jcarruthers]

Awesome!

Exactly what I needed!

Thank you very much...

Whilst playing about with it I thought of a question; say I am duplicating a cone on a sphere - is there any way of making all the cones point outwards - essentially making a "spikey" ball.

[paulie]

maya's greeble (sp?) tool is the geometry paint brush....it has all sorts of funcationality...edit, delete add..it paints geometry to your shape's vertices.

[joojaa]

yes the paint is much better than greeble its kind of greeble on steroids. Offcousre if you jsut want simple greeble then just flood the paint.

Greeble in action (its not particulary randomized becaus ei ave jitter off)

ANYWAY yes you can make the things allign no problem, just inherit the surface normal.

[gwelch]

With the "f3dDuplicatorX.mel" script, check the "Step 3" "align" box to get your cones pointing using the targerts normals direction.

QUOTE(JamesCarruthers @ 12/19/06, 09:22 AM) [snapback]255288[/snapback]
Awesome!

Exactly what I needed!

Thank you very much...

Whilst playing about with it I thought of a question; say I am duplicating a cone on a sphere - is there any way of making all the cones point outwards - essentially making a "spikey" ball.

[jcarruthers]

Thanks everyone - where do I get Greeble from?

I had a go with geometryPaint - very neat and useful to know!

I love learning Maya - it's so nice...

[joojaa]

Geometry paint is everything greeble is and more. Doubleclick on the paint tool icon, set value to jitter and hit flood! You can then later modify theese greebles with the brush (if you have a tabet wich you should then the presure affects how much things change)

Ilea ia that maya don't need greeble because geometry paint tool does all greeble does and more.

Furthermore geometry paint tool isnt actualy a maya tool at all its just a simple example of what artisan can do for you!