Paint attribute values

The Paint Attributes Tool has been redesigned to improve performance and usability. The Paint Cluster Weights Tool, Paint Jiggle Weights Tool, and Paint Soft Body Weights Tool are actually customized versions of the Paint Attributes Tool.

You can use the Paint Attributes Tool to paint any paintable attribute value on a surface. A paintable attribute is one that has been registered in Maya. Blend shape, cluster, Delta Mush, tension, lattice, shrinkwrap and wire weights, as well as jiggle weights, soft body (weights), and fluid property attributes are already registered as paintable. For information on making an attribute paintable, see Make an attribute paintable.

Before you paint attributes, set the Paint Attributes Tool Options in the Tool Settings editor (Modify > Paint Attributes Tool > ).

To paint attributes

1. Select the surface on which you want to paint attribute values.
2. Select Modify > Paint Attributes Tool > to review and set the Paint Attributes Tool Options.

   The Paint Attributes Tool automatically detects paintable nodes and attributes on the surface, even ones you register yourself. For more information, see Make an attribute paintable.

3. In the Paint Attributes section of the Tool Settings window, click the List of Paintable Attributes button and select the node, then the attribute you want to paint. After you select an attribute, the name of the node and attribute displays on the button.

   You can define which paintable attributes display in the Paintable Attributes list by clicking the Filter button and selecting the appropriate display filter.

   Tip:

   If you are painting on a single surface, you can skip step 2 and select the node and attribute without opening the Tool Settings editor by right-clicking the surface and selecting Paint > paintableNode > paintableAttribute.

4. If you are painting a three channel attribute (RGB or XYZ), beside Vector Index, select the channel you want to paint. If you are painting a single channel attribute, you can use any setting.
5. Select a paint operation and value and define other Paint Attributes Tools settings as required.
6. Define common tool settings (brush, stroke, stylus pressure, attribute maps, and display), if required. For details, see Artisan Tool Settings.
7. Drag the brush across the surface.