Generate Maps window

Use the Generate Maps window to specify the points information and map information that you want to use with the Anim Wire modifier.

Points

Use these options to create or load a points map for the AnimWires modifier.

Points Dir

Sets the location of the points (.xuv) file you want to use with the AnimWires Modifier. If you generate a new points file, it is saved to this directory you specify.

For AnimWires Modifiers, points specify the locations of the animation wires that drive the primitive animation.

Density

Sets the number of points created on the polygon mesh surface over a given area.

Mask

This number is a multiplier on the Density. Use an expression or image map here to vary the density of the points over parts of the surface. Keep this value between 0 and 1, as it should only be used to decrease the number of points.

Point Display Length

Sets the length of the markers that display on the mesh surface, which indicate the location of points.

Load

Loads the point (.xuv) file previously creates and stored in the specified Point Dir. If no points file exists, click Generate to create one on the mesh surface.

Generate

Creates a new point (.xuv) file for the AnimWire modifier and saves it in the specified Point Dir.

Guide

Places points at guide locations on the mesh surface.

Clear

Removes points from the mesh surface.

Save

Click Save to create the animation wires on the locations specified by the Points settings.

Maps

Map Dir

Specifies the location of the Ptex-based map you generate with the AnimWires modifier. This map defines the area of influence for each animation wire. Animation wires drive the animation of primitives within their area of influence.

Radius Variance

Randomizes the radius of the animation wire area of influence. Use values between 0.1 (low ) and 0.7 (high) . You can also use an expression to specify a range of randomization.

Use Control Maps

If the Description is using a Region Map, this is on by default. Turn this off if a Region Map is created after you created the AnimWire, so that you can rebuild the maps.

Control Mask

Controls the effect of the region or control map. You can attach a Ptex-based texture map to this attribute to control where the region map has greater and lesser effect.

Control Map

Specifies the location of the Region Map or control map Ptex file you want to use with the current AnimWires modifier.

Texels Per Unit

Sets the texel resolution of the Ptex clumping map. If you turn on Control Maps to use a region map with the AnimWires modifier, the resolution of the map you generate is set to the resolution of the specified control map.

When Control Maps is on, Texels Per Unit is disabled.