Work with sculpt layers

Use sculpt layers as a way to blend and layer the effects of interactive grooming tools. For example, you can create sculpt layers for each grooming brush, and then adjust the weighting of the layers to generate a unique groom or variant hairstyles. You can also keyframe the weighting value for a layer to create simple hair animations.

Work with Sculpt Layers using the Interactive Groom Editor

To... Do this
Add a sculpt layer Select a Sculpt modifier and click Add Sculpt Layer.
Edit a sculpt layer Select the Sculpt modifier and click the icon to the right of the sculpt layer you want to edit.

This icon indicates that the layer is in edit mode. Any grooming tool brush strokes you make are now stored and controlled by this sculpt layer. You can enter Edit mode for only one sculpt layer at a time.

Set the weight of a sculpt layer. Drag its slider to set the weight (influence) to a value between 0.000 and 1.000, or enter a value in the weight text box.

A setting of 0 means that the sculpt layer has no effect on the groom. A setting of 1 is 100% of its influence. Use weight values between 0 and 1 for best results.

In the weight text box, you can enter values outside the 0.000 - 1.000 range to either invert (negative values) or amplify (values over 1) the layer’s influence.

If you enter a value greater than the current maximum value (by default, 1), the maximum value changes to double the value, or to 10 if double the value is greater than 10.

If you enter a value less than the current minimum value (by default, 0), the minimum value changes to double the value or to -10 if double the value is less than -10.

When you enter values less than 0 or greater than 1.000, the weight sliders' length changes to reflect the new range of values.

Keyframe a layer weight value. Select from the following:
  • To set a key at the current weight, click the key icon beside .
  • Right-click the icon and select from the following:
    • Key at current to key the current weight.
    • Key at 0 to key 0 percent weight.
    • Key at 1 to key 100 percent weight.

    This icon indicates that a key has been to set on the layer.

Remove a key Select the key on the Time Slider, right-click the sculpt layer, and then select Remove key.
Group sculpt layers

Ctrl + click the layers you want to group and select one of the following methods:

  • Click the Group icon.
  • Select Edit > Group.

To ungroup sculpt layers, drag-and-drop it to location outside the group.

Merge sculpt layers

Merged layers get added to a new sculpt layer named mergedLayer. To be merged, sculpt layers must belong to the same Sculpt modifier.

To merge selected sculpt layers:
  1. Shift + select the sculpt layers you want to merge.
  2. Right-click and select Merge in the menu that appears.

To merge enabled layers only, right-click and select Merge Visible in the menu that appears.

Disable a sculpt layer

Disabling temporarily removes the grooming tool brush strokes on the layer from affecting the groom. These brush strokes are not deleted.

Click to the left of the sculpt layer.

Click to re-enable the layer.

Delete a sculpt layer

Deleting a sculpt layer permanently removes it from the description and removes all the grooming tool brush strokes from the hair.

Select the sculpt layer, then select one of the following methods:

  • Click the icon
  • Right-click and select Delete.
  • Select Edit > Delete.

Related topics

Parent topic: XGen Interactive Grooming