You can sculpt subdivision surfaces using the
Sculpt Geometry Tool.
One advantage of sculpting with subdivision surface models is that it is possible to add finer levels of detail to regions of the mesh that require it by refining those areas of the model. The increased level of detail provides the
Sculpt Geometry Tool with more information to sculpt finer detail on the model.
To sculpt a subdivision surface model using the
Sculpt Geometry Tool
- Select the subdivision surface or the vertices on the subdivision surface in the region you want to sculpt.
- From the
Modeling menu set, select
.
The
Sculpt Geometry Tool Settings editor appears and the Maya cursor changes to a brush icon to indicate it is in sculpting mode. You use the options located under
Sculpt Parameters to control how your brushing actions on the surface either push, pull, or smooth the vertices on the subdivision surface mesh.
- In the
Sculpt Parameters section, under
Operation, click
Push
or
Pull.
- Do any of the following:
- Brush across the surface to push or pull vertices.
- Press b and drag left or right while pressing the left mouse button to change the brush radius.
- Press m and drag left or right while pressing the left mouse button to change the maximum displacement setting for the
Sculpt Geometry Tool.
- If
Push is selected, pressing Ctrl changes the current operation to
Pull.
- If
Pull is selected, pressing Ctrl changes the current operation to
Push.
- In both cases, pressing Shift changes the current operation to
Smooth.
- If you need to add additional detail to the surface when you sculpt the surface see "To refine a subdivision surface while sculpting" below.
To refine a subdivision surface while sculpting
- If vertices are selected on the subdivision surface when working in the
Sculpt Geometry Tool you can right-click on the subdivision surface to display the context sensitive marking menu and choose
Refine Selected from the menu.
Vertices are added to the subdivision surface in the localized area where the vertices were selected.
- If vertices are
not currently selected on the subdivision surface you must do the following to refine the subdivision surface:
- Press the right mouse button and select vertex from the marking menu that appears to display vertices for the subdivision surface.
- Choose the
Select Tool from the
Toolbox. (Hotkey: q)
- Select the desired vertices on the subdivision surface.
- Right-click the subdivision surface to display the context sensitive marking menu and choose
Refine Selected from the menu.
- Return to sculpting mode again by selecting the
Sculpt Geometry Tool
icon in the
Toolbox. (Hotkey: y)
Subdivision surface sculpting tips
The following tips will help your subdivision surface sculpting work: