#Metaballs MSHAPE assgmnt
12 messages in this thread
Is there a way in Metaballs to select only a specified group of balls
to assign MSHAPE? I tried hiding the group I did not want to assign,
I've also tried to freeze the group, but MSHAPE still assigns a mesh
to the group I do not want it to assign. I've found a work around by
selecting the group I do want assigned and saving it, then deleting
the rest, then bringing the deleted ones back, but this seems like
too much extra work, is there an easier way. Thanks.
James,
<<Is there a way in Metaballs to select only a specified group of balls to
assign MSHAPE?>>
you will be able to group metaballs in v2.0. Right now, your doing the only
work-around I'd know of.
just be patient, you'll have v2.0 before you know it 🙂
-Kyle
When you model in Metaballs – can you create an outline of the image
you are modeling or do you build it free form and shape by using the
various balls only? I am hoping that a demo of v2.0 will get
uploaded.
When I model with Metaballs, I start with the general shape or mass of
the object and slowly work in the detail on top of it. So, for
example, if I were to model a human head, I'd create the major
masses, so it's just a shape with no facial detail. Then, I'd work
in some of the minor masses, like the brow, nose, cheek bones, chin,
and eye sockets. Third step would be to add the smaller details,
like lips, eyes, openings in the nose and mouth, as well as the
teeth. All the rest of the detail would be left to texture and bump
maps.
<<I am hoping that a demo of v2.0 will get uploaded.>>
any questions regarding demo versions or release dates of Metareyes Metaballs
can be directed to the programmer, Javier Reyes (100421,1611).
-Kyle
I looked at the T-REX model you did and it was GREAT! One question though, it
looks as the map would have little ridges where the metaballs are -how are they
fused into one unit as opposed to little lumpy balls?
Judy
Judy,
No matter how much I'd like to have created the T-REX, I didn't. 🙂
It was created by Jose De Espona.
<<-how are they fused into one unit as opposed to little lumpy
balls?>> What you're seeing in the T-REX images is the reference
spheres that he used to create the resultant mesh, which you see in
the top view – nicely textured. The reasin you don't see little
lumps in the final rendered image is because the Metaballs process
uses the reference spheres as a guide to create ONE smooth, freeform
mesh. So, the spheres you see in the bottom image are never
rendered.
Do the spheres need to fill in the entire body – in other words are
there metaballs in the interior of the model or are they just for the
outside.? I know this sounds awkward – I hope you understand what I
am trying to say.
Judy,
<<Do the spheres need to fill in the entire body>> no, they don't,
but I'm sure they do – otherwise, there will be interior polygons –
and that just makes for more rendering time. The reference spheres
on the interior would be bigger as they just fill space and really
give no detail.
Thanks for the info Kyle. I should be pestering you for lots of help
soon. I went out and bought MetaReyes 🙂
I notice that they are no tutorials 🙁
By the way will IK and BONES-PRO work with the mesh from MetaReyes?
From reading the user manual it appears that IK should work but not
BONES-PRO.
Judy,
<<I should be pestering you for lots of help soon.>>
pester away – just think of me as a sounding board <bg>
<< it appears that IK should work but not BONES-PRO.>>
nope, both routines work just fine.
You use Metaballs to create a single mesh object – "your character".
Now you have a mesh that is treated the same as say, the demo cow
mesh that ships with Bones Pro. So you assign your bones to the mesh
created with metaballs, then you use IK to control those bone
objects. It's really as easy as that! You might check out
BN_ALI.ZIP in the ipas lib (#1). – it's an animation I did using a
'boned' metamesh.
I'll check that out.
I have played a little with it and I am curious – it does not seem as
if the mesh is a smooth – it looks like the metaballs don't get
absorbed but rather stay as "balls" – does that make sense?
Judy
Each metaball has an adjustable range of influence. Two closely placed
mataballs with wide ranges would create more of a singular egg shape as opposed
to a sort of cellular-mitosis shape.
— James — Choreo Motion —