Combining creased objects in Maya

Loqq · Jun 2012

Hello all, I am having a slight issue. I need to combine all of my current mesh to import it into Zbrush. However not all of my mesh has creases. Basically what I am asking is, is there anyway to combine the entire mesh without it removing my creases?

BARDLER · Jun 2012

I ran into this issue as well, I got all kind of issues combining meshes with creases. After some searching on the net, the general consensus was don't use creases. Use edge loops and geo where it needs to be to create the same effect a crease would.

Pola · Jun 2012

Uhhh, its smooth preview(3) right? Just go to Modify>Convert>Smooth Mesh Preview to Polygons. The crease will be permanent.

Bal · Jun 2012

Yeah this is a bit annoying, you could always just send them all to Zbrush and combine them in there, I think that will keep your creases.

BARDLER, creases are super useful for Zbrush work, just recommending using more geo is kind of missing the point, and not something you want in Zbrush.

Loqq · Jun 2012

Awesome! Thank for the reply's, I will try these different methods today. Once again thank you for the fast reply's

Scruples · Jun 2012

Just tested this out in Maya 2013, combining models doesn't remove the creases anymore.
Now if only they could fix the crashing.

Loqq · Jun 2012

I maya 2013 does the model have to be creased in the 2013 version? I bought my model into the 2013 version from 2011 and the objects still have their creases removed

pixelpatron · Mar 2013

Using 2013 and the creases are getting hosed when I combine, thus they are gone when I bring em to z-brush, any updates on this?

Air0ne · Jan 2014

Hi there,

I have the same issue on Maya 2014. Anyone has found a solution apart of doing them at the end?

Shinobubu · Dec 2014

Maya crashes when combining Creased Meshes in Viewport 2.0
my solution was to use the legacy viewport first. Combine the meshes. Delete History. If returning to the 2.0 viewport still causes crashes I would remove the creases before returning to viewport 2.0..

Goobatastic · Jan 2016

Im trying to combined meshes with creases on them in maya 2016 and the creases are getting nuked. Does anyone know a setting or a different way to combine meshes which wont do that?

oglu · Jan 2016

are you using the crease set editor to create the creases.?

Bartalon · Jan 2016

Tried fiddling with this problem for a bit. I don't use crease edges often but when I do they tend to be unstable and get clobbered when combining complex meshes together. Apparently you can't use Select Using Constraints and isolate only crease edges (unless I was using the tool wrong) so I made a workaround script that should safely combine mesh objects and retain (or rather, store and reassign) crease edges.

Written in Maya 2013
Tested in Maya 2013 and 2016

{
    //Makes sure model is not in smooth preview (for stability reasons)
    setDisplaySmoothness 1;

    //Stores all selected objects so they can be processed one at a time
    string $objects[] = `ls -sl`;

    for ($object in $objects) {
        select $object;

        //Softens all edges on object (to prepare for constrained selection later)
        SoftPolyEdgeElements 1;
        ConvertSelectionToEdges;
        string $creases[];

        //store long names of all edges of current object
        string $edges[] = `ls -fl -sl`;
        for ($edge in $edges) {
            float $val[] = `polyCrease -q -v $edge`;

            //If edge has a crease value above -1 (no crease) then it's stored for selection later
            if ($val[0] > -1) {
                $creases[`size $creases`] = $edge;
            }
        }

        //Select creases, then remove creases (for stability issues)
        select $creases;
        polyCrease -ch true -value 0 -vertexValue 0;

        //Harden edges that used to be creased
        SoftPolyEdgeElements 0;

        //Clear creased edges variable to prepare for processing next object
        clear $creases;
    }
    
    select $objects;

    //Combine selection, delete history, store name
    CombinePolygons;
    string $newObject[] = `ls -sl`;
    DeleteHistory;
    
    //Select via constraints, all hard edges on selection and crease them
    polySelectConstraint -sm 1 -t 0x8000 -m 3;
    polyCrease -ch true -value 10 -vertexValue 10;

    //End operation with newly combined and creased object selected
    select $newObject;

    //Bake crease history node which in my experience has been known to cause stability issues
    DeleteHistory;
}

Goobatastic · Jan 2016

oglu said:

are you using the crease set editor to create the creases.?

Yeah i am mate.
For an alternative i am just parenting the meshes.

Cheers Bartalon i will try that script to see if it works which im sure it does

Thanks both for replying to rather old thread

Combining creased objects in Maya

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