We have a script here that preserves history when combining/separating meshes so it is (probably) technically possible - i can't share the code I'm afraid though
Just thinking off the top of my head but maybe having a script that ran through the scene gathered up the instances to that object and then offsetting the main deformer using the world rotation and translation.
UVDeluxe got a checkbox for "Retain Component Spacing" plus some other neat features. Maybe it can help you. http://www.creativecrash.com/maya/downloads/scripts-plugins/texturing/c/uvdeluxe
That makes sense, but unfortunately I do not know then. I feel like a script would be easy for someone to do, if it isn't out there already. Hopefully someone with more knowledge then I can help you out with this one.
I have a script for that. It kinda blows up your shells really large you so you have to select them all and scale them down, but they're 1:1 at least. Simply paste it into the MEL command line at the bottom and Ctrl - Middle Mouse drag it up to your shelf. Dunno who made the script but big props to him/her. I got it from…
Ninja UV will map to a specified texel density.. it will automatically scale based on the diffuse texture size or you can input a texture size. http://www.creativecrash.com/maya/marketplace/scripts-plugins/texturing/c/ninja-uv--2 you can also check out Ninja Dojo for more tools. http://www.bk3d.com/Ninja_Dojo/Dojo.htm
Hmmm I don't know if default Maya can do that, so you might need to look for a script. If I needed a shape like that I would use the "cut faces tool" under the edit mesh tab. It basically lets you draw an edge through everything like if you were slicing it, so that might work for you. Example below.
i didnt. ive been kind of just coping without it. i did however have our tools guy at work write up a small script that will activate the "set to vert" "set to edge" and "set to face" options.. but automatically set the custom axis of the vert, edge, or face that is selected for both move and scale. made working with…
So I've been using maya for about 3 months now and im pretty comfortable with it.. in some cases i prefer it to max.. but regardless, there are still some small things that i wish i could do but cant. I dont know if its a thing with maya that is just like this, or if i need to change settings.. so thats where you all come…