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http://ben-reynolds.com
Animation and Design
Forums
ok, i feel like an idiot for asking this, but what is the difference between modeling in nurbs and polygons. i've always modeled with polygons. a friend of mine told me that i should be using nurbs for inanimate objects and backgrounds, but didn't say why. is there a major difference? please somebody fill me in.
(thanks in advance)
that's right, i totally didn't think about that, thanks again!
http://ben-reynolds.com
Animation and Design
ok, another stupid question:o , but how do i convert a polygon to a nurb. i was just messing around with it but i can't remember how to convert back and forth
http://ben-reynolds.com
Animation and Design
>> Modify >> Convert ... With a list of options to chose from.
If you're at a school you probably don't have the manual but the help manual they put online from inside the program is reasonably extensive. Depending on the network settings even if the help wasn't installed, you should be able to have it installed after the fact (as in, after the Maya software itself is already instaled) from the package if you can get in touch with whoever administrates those computers.
true. The help menu can be very, well, helpful. I use it quite often.
As long as you know what stuff is called that is.
"who wouldn't want to make stuff for me? I'm awesome." -Bloo
NURBS create smooth surfaces with a minimum of points, so they're a lot lighter data-wise on a scene than a poly object would be to achieve the same level of smoothness.
A NURBS object is basically a rectangular patch that's been distorted into whatever shape you're making. There is always a seam in a NURBS model, which is why you want to use them for inanimate objects; if you start deforming them with joints, there's a high probability that the seam will split open.
I find NURBS hard to work with, but there are folks that swear by them (I swear AT them).
ok, that makes sense. thanks for such a quick response btw; so maybe i'll give nurbs a try and see how they work. is the tool set similar to working with polys or is this going to take me some time to get the hang of?
http://ben-reynolds.com
Animation and Design
The tool set's somewhat different. Don't forget that you can convert back and forth from polys to NURBS in Maya, though I wouldn't do it too much per object. The results can be a bit unpredictable.
My all time favorite, Maya at a Glance Book. LOVE this book. Because the hardest thing of all is to find where the freakin' button is!!!! Great resource. Does a nice job explaining NURBS vs. Polys, too.
http://www.amazon.com/Maya-at-Glance-George-Maestri/dp/0782144047