Strange And Very Annoying Probs :((

[dezz]

I started organic modelling but I ran into so many problems that I don't know where to start. I'll try from the very begining.

I like to start with a nurbs surface that I convert to subdiv and I mode some body part. Then do the same with another. Then I convert all mesh to poly, combine, merge verts - and there is problem N1 - I am getting bad geometry. I also cannot convert to subdiv again, there is an error report stating there is nonmanifolded geometry. I run cleanup - sometimes it helps, sometimes it makes nothing. With my current workflow I get this problem everytime

Problem N2 - the bigges one so far - lets say I model a leg using a subdiv surface, and I decide to make a finger. OK, after I make it I want to convert to poly, to extract the finger and duplicate it to save some time. But guess what - each time I try I get the same error: // Error: subdTessShape1 has only one piece. Ignored.
Then it suddenly turns out that each polygon in that shape is double. Cleanup says there is nothing to clean. When I convert to subvid I get a subdiv surface surronuded by polygonal object, both in a single object, or a subdiv surface that has everything doubled.

This is funny cause I have no problem extracting faces from ordinary polygon objects. I am confused, all I do is pushing, pulling and extruding, pretty simple actions and I manage to get so much problem with my geometry that it turns useless

Problem N3 - when I work with subdiv surfaces in polygon mode sometimes maya looses the connection btwn the polygon cage and the subdiv - I make changes in polygon mode, but they do not apply. I have to go to standart mode, then to object mode, then to polygon mode again to actually make it work again.

[fortner_mike]

Hmm, well thats a weird workflow you exercise there. Usually 1.you build the WHOLE thing in polygons and then IF you want to you convert it to sub-d(or nurbs) for details, or you work in sub-d mode by editing polygon cage (your problem is probobly because you somehow accidentally hit uncrease , this can be fixed by simply selecting the problematic places and going to subdiv surfaces-> partial crease/full crease (this is maya 7 ))2.You build the whole thing in nurbs and never do anything in polygons or sub-d.

Its likely that all the "trash" you have came from converting forth and back through polys subs and nurbs.

[dezz]

Nope, I didn't use crease, I loose the poly/subD connection while working with the object, using basic extruding, pushing and pulling

And yes I am modelling using subDs to preview the model in a smoother way, converting to polys when I need to attach or some other poly specific operation.

I've seen this workflow in the digital tutor "poly and subD modelling" dvds, and the dude that was making the dvds had only one of my problems, that he solved with a simple cleanup. I am following his actions and get tons of bad geometry.

[joojaa]

Theres 2 thinsg you must keep your heads up on, nonmanifolds (in this case surfaces that are oriented different ways, look at your normals) and extra wings, if you have either of theese the subd conversion will fail.

one of the most classic shapes thet will not work is connecting 2 patches by a cornerpoint. so make sure you sue merge edges isntead of merge points.

[dezz]

10x a lot, I tought merging vertex is a common practise

will try merging the edges and see if there is improvement