- Generate Primitives
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Controls the distribution of primitives generated by XGen.
- Randomly across the surface
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Generates primitives in a random Poisson distribution over the patch. This is most useful for fur, grass, and weeds.
- In uniform rows and columns
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Generates primitives along parametric rows and columns. Use Spacing to specify the space between the primitives. XGen determines the number of appropriate rows and columns, on a per-face basis, to give a surface wide uniform appearance. XGen's random generator uses this value as a seed in it's instancing generation calculations.
- At specified locations
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Generates primitives at locations determined by the placement of points. Use Specify Points to place or change the location of primitives.
- At guide locations
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Generates primitives at locations determined by the placement of guides. Use the Add/Move Guide Tool
to place or change the location of primitives.
- From XPD File
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Lets you use information from an XPD file to generate primitives.
For information about XPD files, see Manage XGen files and directories.
- Generator Seed
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Sets the procedural seed value. You can set Generate Seed to the same value in different Descriptions to generate primitives on the same points of the polygon surface.
- Flip to other side of surface
- Generates primitives on the opposite side of the polygon mesh.
- Density
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Controls the number of primitives created by XGen over a given area.
- Mask
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This number is a multiplier on the Density. Use an expression or image map here to vary the density of primitives over parts of the surface. Keep this value between 0 and 1, as it should only be used to decrease the number of primitives from the total Count.
- More Primitives at, Primitive Locations
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Click Specify Points to open the Specify Points Tool window, from which you can click locations of a polygon mesh to specify the placement of primitives.
- Spacing
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Controls spacing between the rows and columns of primitives when you use In uniform rows and columns to generate primitives.
Note: Setting Spacing to small values, such as 0.01, uses large amounts of memory when the Description is previewed and may cause Maya to stop unexpectedly. - Compensate Normals
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Averages the growth normals for primitives to prevent visible faceting on curved surfaces. Use this when the primitive distribution shows obvious face boundaries.
- Compensate for uneven parameterization
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Redistributes primitives in areas where the distribution is uneven because the surface has a mix of small and large faces. When on, you need to click Create Parameterization Map to create a parameterization map.
- Create Parameterization Map
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Creates or updates the map used to compensate for uneven parameterization. Update this map if the surface shape is altered significantly.
- Input Dir
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Specifies the location of the XPD file you want to use when Generate Primitives is set to From XPD File.