Hair Q

[ruteger]

Trying to figure out how to use a weight map or gradient shader to apply hair a model.

For example if I create a simple sphere and create a weight map to simulate a bald spot at the crown of the head, I don't know how to get hair to use the weight map - If I apply hair to the sphere the weight map goes away...

Thanks,

[lib]

this is all detailed in the manuals.

You create the hair, transfer the map from the emitter to the hair, and then connect it using the weight map divot representing the param you wish to drive (e.g. Cut)

[ruteger]

I know. The manual says to pick the weight map from the explorer window, but all I see in the explorer window is the hair node - nothing else. I must be missing a step somewhere? How do I make the weight map for the hair or object the hair is on?

1) create sphere
2) apply weight map
3) hair>apply hair from selection
4) connect weight map

[mike-rb]

browse the whole scene with the explorer, the map must be on the growth object.

Mike

[character0]

It's a little tricky, I think the best display of this process was on a new features movie I saw somewhere on the net. I don't even know if I would have gotten this if I hadn't seen it on the movie. So here we go:

And I'm being thorough for anyone who has this problem but is not familiar with every process in XSI, I'm sure you know how to do some of this.

Create sphere. Apply Hair (the order of the first few steps doesn't matter). With the sphere selected create a weight map. Property>Weight Map. Goto the hair panel and select Modify>Transfer Map. You're cursor will turn into a black arrow with the word "pick" underneath. Goto the right Toolbar and click on the "Scene" bar. Then follow the browser until you reach you geometry. Then expand it until you reach the weight map you assigned it. (This is usually located in the "clusters" folder of an object) Now with the hair selected hit ENTER and get its ppg up. Goto Effects>Cut Map, and the "plug" button. It''ll ask if you want to connect or disconnect. Select connect. Now when you browse thru the window that pops up (which should only have you hair node in it) you find the weight map you created.

This is also how you apply a texture map to a hair shader. Same process except switch weight map with texture support.

Hope that helps!!

[ruteger]

That works! Thanks for the tip...