Create NURBS primitives

You can create pre-defined 3D geometric shapes called primitives in Maya. Primitives can be used as-is or as a starting point for 3D modeling.

NURBS primitives can be created from the Create menu, the Shelf, or interactively. Each method is described below.

Create NURBS primitives using the Create menu

For information on settings, see NURBS Primitives Options.

To create NURBS primitives using the Create menu

Select Create > NURBS Primitives, then select the primitive’s option box from the list of primitives. For example, Sphere > or Cube > .
The associated options window appears.
In the primitive options window, change the attributes of the NURBS primitive.
For example, you can set attributes that specify the size and scale, how the primitive is subdivided, and so on.

Note: You can modify primitive attributes after creating it using either the Channel Box or the Attribute Editor.
Click Create.
The primitive object appears at the origin of the scene view.

Create NURBS primitives using the Shelf

The Shelf provides easily-selectable primitive icons. You can also set a primitive’s options and then save a custom version of a primitive to the Shelf for future use.

To create NURBS primitives using the Shelf

In the scene view, select the Surfaces tab on the Shelf to display the surfaces primitive icons.
Click a surfaces primitive icon.

The primitive object appears at the origin of the scene view.

Create a NURBS primitive interactively

Using your mouse, you can create, position, and scale primitives, without having to use transformation tools. Select Create > NURBS Primitives > Interactive Creation. This option stays on until you turn it off. If you want to create multiple primitives interactively, turn off the setting Create > NURBS Primitives > Exit on Completion.

To interactively create NURBS primitives

Select Create > NURBS Primitives > Interactive Creation if it is not already on.
Select Create > NURBS Primitives > and choose the primitive type or select the primitive type from the shelf.
If you want to change the settings that the polygon primitive is created with, such as Axis or Number of Spans, select Create > NURBS Primitives > (Shape) > .
In the scene view, do one of the following:
- Click-drag to create the primitive (Sphere, Plane, Torus, Circle, Square).
- Click-drag to initially create a 2D base of the primitive. Then click-drag a second time to scale the 2D base into a 3D primitive object (Cube, Cylinder, Cone).

Holding down the Shift and Control keys during primitive creation has the following effects:

Modifier key	Effect
(None)	Grows plane and cube primitives from the corner. Grows all other primitives from the center.
Control	Grows plane and cube primitives from the center. (No effect on all other primitives.)
Shift	Constrains all primitives to three-dimensional equilateral proportions and grows them from the base.
Control + Shift	Constrains all primitives to three-dimensional equilateral proportions and grows them from the center.

To create a NURBS primitive with a single click using the options you select

Select Create > NURBS Primitives > Interactive Creation if it is not already on.
If you want to change the settings that the NURBS primitive is created with, such as Axis or Number of Spans, select Create > NURBS Primitives > (Shape) > .

There are specific Single-click settings for primitive creation.
Click in the scene view to create primitives.

To create multiple NURBS primitives interactively or with a single click

Turn on Create > NURBS Primitives > Exit on Completion.

Other options

As well, during interactive primitive creation, you can snap the polygon to existing objects in the scene. You have the following options (click the icon in the Status line or press the hotkey). Snap to

grid
curves
CV, vertex, or pivot
live object

These snap options allow you, during the creation of your primitive, to snap to a projected point on the line or plane defined by any other object in your scene.

For more information, see