Paint nConstraint property maps

Note:

• Painted constraint weights have no effect on Transform constraints or nCloth to passive object constraints. This is because Weight on constraint links is like relative mass, and passive objects do not have a mass. Also, passive objects always fully push nCloth when constrained.
• When you paint nCloth constraint properties, you are painting property values on the nConstraint node, not on the dynamicConstraintShape node.

To create nCloth constraint vertex maps

1. Select the nCloth object you want to paint nCloth constraint vertex properties for.
2. -select the constraint your want to paint vertex properties for, to include it in the paint operation.
3. Select nConstraint > Paint properties by Vertex Map > [nCloth constraint property].

   The Paint nComponent Attribute Tool becomes the current tool, and its settings appear in the Tool Settings panel. This tool is a modified version of the Paint Attributes Tool. See Artisan Tool Settings.

4. Set the Paint nComponent Attributes Tool settings as desired.
5. Paint the vertex properties as desired:
   • Strength determines the power of the constraint links between the selected surface’s constraint members and other components within the selected dynamic constraint.
   • Glue Strength determines how resistant the selected surface’s constraint member links are from breaking.
   • Weight determines how much influence the selected surface’s constraint members have on the other components constrained to them. Since Weight is like mass for a constraint, components with a constraint weight of zero are pushed, but do not push back.

   The painted vertex properties are automatically saved to the selected nCloth’s vertices.

To create nCloth constraint texture maps

1. Select the nCloth object for which you want to paint an nCloth constraint texture map.
2. Select nConstraint > Paint properties by Texture Map > [nCloth constraint property].

   The 3D Paint Tool becomes the current tool, and its settings appear in the Tool Settings panel. This tool is a modified version of the 3D Paint Tool. See 3D Paint Tool.

3. Set the 3D Paint Tool’s settings as desired.
4. Paint the texture map properties as desired:
   • Strength determines the power of the constraint links between the selected surface’s constraint members and other components within the selected dynamic constraint.
   • Glue Strength determines how resistant the selected surface’s constraint member links are from breaking.
   • Weight determines how much influence the selected surface’s constraint members have on the other components constrained to them. Since Weight is like mass for a constraint, components with a constraint weight of zero are pushed, but do not push back.
5. In the Tool Settings, click Save Textures in the File Textures section.

   The painted nCloth constraint texture map is saved as a file texture to the \maya\projects\default\3dPaintTextures directory by default.

To convert an nCloth constraint vertex map to a texture map

1. Select the nCloth object that has the vertex constraint property values you would like to convert to a texture map.
2. Select nConstraint > Convert Vertex to Texture Map > [nCloth constraint property].

   The selected constraint property’s values are saved to disk as a texture map (file texture) and the property’s values on the nCloth’s vertices are not removed.

To convert an nCloth constraint texture map to a vertex map

1. Select the nCloth object that has the constraint property texture map you would like to convert to per-vertex property values.
2. Select nConstraint > Convert Texture to Vertex Map > [nCloth constraint property].

   The selected constraint property’s texture map (file texture) is converted to per-vertex property values, those values are then stored on the selected nCloth’s vertices, and the texture map is not deleted from disk.