Max to Maya Help

HandSandwich

So we just switched from Max to Maya here at the office and I've run into a few issues that hopefully you folk can help me with.
First off, how do I turn ignore backfacing off? Everytime I try to select verts or faces, I have to rotate the model around to make sure I've got them all.
Secondly, does Maya have a feature like Connect in Max? The closest I've came across so far is the split poly tool and thats not really cutting it. Literally.
Thanks

-W

claydough

display > polygons > custom polygon display > backface culling > off

or jes make the following a hot key or shelfButton:

polyOptions -bc;

vj_box

not really sure of the ignore backface option,as iam also a major max guy,but for the connect,you have the edge loop tool(split edge),which is found in the edit mesh menu.with this u can manually position the loop,as where exactly u want.

Vj

ivars

Check:
- Insert Edge Loop Tool
- Split Edge Ring
- Split Polygon Tool

Check the tool settings for each and maybe you'll find something useful.

fade1

haven't tried it yet, but this looks alright:
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/mel_scripts/modeling/poly_tools/Custom-Split-Edge-Ring-4406.html

Toast

Usually split poly tool won't work because of ngons in your mesh or lots of history on your object.

claydough

AHotHandSandwich wrote: »

First off, how do I turn ignore backfacing off? Everytime I try to select verts or faces, I have to rotate the model around to make sure I've got them all.

If you want to select backface vertices...
shouldn't you still be in wireframe mode or at least rotate around to verify you have the correct selection?
Rather than attempting a "blind selection".

Usually I have the opposite problem ( selecting unwanted back face verts ) when I thought backFaceCulling was on.

Personally, I like using an animated symbol button toggle in my UI that reflects the current culling.
This way I have a visual feedback of what state my model is in even when in shaded mode...





without having to build a custom UI u can do the same with an animated shelf button that reflects culling state.


Here is an installation script that will set up the backFaceCulling animated shelf button toggle to your current shelfLayout tab
( in the Maya's Main layout )

The script will not work without the icons placed in yer icons folder.




download here




"click" to toggle culling on your selected poly object only.
"double click" to toggle culling on all poly objects instead.

The icon however will only reflect correctly with your current object and or scene..
( with a new scene, or new object, or if yer jes unsure, click once to "align")

Mark Dygert

or jes make the following a hot key or shelfButton:

Once you get done pimping your own ride, things start to become manageable. Also look into NEX. I found it was the only real way to Make Maya's poly modeling tools bearable. But because I use it, I groan if I have to sit down with vanilla Maya and have to figure out a way around whatever it is I normally do easily in NEX.

Maya hot keys still drive me nuts. Cut should be the same keystroke no matter what mode you're in especially considering you'll never try to use them both at the same time.

I'll stop before the hate machine really gets rollin'

Slipstream

NEX definitely helped me out alot making the transition. It makes me able to tolerate sitting down with normal maya when I have to

HandSandwich

Awesome you guys. Thanks so much. I'll check out all of the stuff you've recommended and let you know if I've got anymore questions. Thanks again.

-W

pior

Sweet script claydough!
some more readable icons for it :

claydough

thanks pior, that reads much better!
could you make the background a tad bit darker to seperate the front face?
Does Maya accept png files with shelf buttons?

pior

Oh I used mayas default grey but feel free to edit.
Maya wants BMPs! Just uploaded them as pngs to avoid jpg artefacts :P
Making shelf icons is fun. I usually use boobs and stuff. READABLE hehe

HandSandwich

Hey guys. Well, after trying many things, I decided to just make my own. Here's my script for making Maya a bit more max user friendly. Try it out and tell me what you think. Thanks.

http://rapidshare.com/files/164782202/Max2Maya.mel

maltuna

sorry to hijack, but i'm having an issue in the uv editor with maya. how do i turn the wireframe off the model while editing the uv's? thanks!

claydough

maltuna wrote: »

sorry to hijack, but i'm having an issue in the uv editor with maya. how do i turn the wireframe off the model while editing the uv's? thanks!

only a modelEditor panel/window can toggle -wireframeOnShaded

however, if yer only editing 1 UV at a time,
or a series of uv's that in combination do not make a complete boundary of a face..

view > view contained face

will clear the wireframe ( since no face are contained )

If this is not the case then only the enclosed face's wireframe "area" is displayed.

maltuna

Thanks for the response clay. I also found another way around it, which isnt as convenient. Window>Settings>Preferences>Display> then unchecked Wireframe on shaded. Works for now...

claydough

oops, I thought u meant wireframe in the texture window :poly136:

try this

hilite -r;

claydough

more convenient...
( because hilite -toggle doesn't werk in component mode )







// assuming poly UVs are selected
// toggle uv hilite
{
string $restore[] = `ls -sl`;
if ( `selectMode -q -component` ){
selectMode -object;
hilite `ls -sl`;
selectType -ocm -polymeshUV 1;
select -r $restore;
}
if ( `selectMode -q -object` ){
if ( !`selectType -q -ocm -polymeshUV` ) {
hilite -toggle `ls -sl -o`;
selectType -ocm -polymeshUV 1;
} else if ( `selectType -q -ocm -polymeshUV` )
hilite -r;
}
}