Painting branchy meshes? [max]

parallel

I'm modelling nervous systems and near organs there's a lot of branching. The main fibers can be relatively easily done with spline modelling, but in the interconnecting areas it would be nice with less fidgeting in doing branchy structures. I'm aware of the 'branchy' script, but I'm looking for a more painted approach, anyone have a tip?

seth.

this sounds like a job for zspheres if you have access to a copy of zbrush.

draw the structures out, make adaptive at 1 or 2 divisions, and then finesse them a bit with the move tool, unless you are after a more automated approach, in which case move along, there's nothing to see here.

parallel

Hmm, haven't been able to get comfortable with zbrush yet (needs a dedicated month I guess) but from what I've seen and what you describe it could do the job easy, just don't have the time to get into zb for now.

At the moment I think I'm going for this setup; drawing all the splines in one plane, apply the branchy script and use conform tool for conforming the nerves around curves and organs.

Mark Dygert

You might want to explore the branch tool in Graphite Modeling Tools > Poly Draw > Branch

http://docs.autodesk.com/3DSMAX/15/ENU/3ds-Max-Help/index.html?url=files/GUID-1C007053-3CFB-42F9-B953-3C329C199B7E.htm,topicNumber=d30e126418



You select a poly and paint drag out. You can control the step distance the angle and the taper from the poly draw menu.
The only weird requirement is that because it draws in screen space you need to view the poly you are extruding from the side and not from straight on.
Play with it a bit and you'll get the hang of it.

With branch mode on, hold ctrl to select a new poly to extrude.

parallel

Mark Dygert that would be what I was looking for, thanks.

almighty_gir

oops wrong post :P