CURVE TO PROXY TUBES
This tool is created to simplify the conversion of Groom curves into geometry tubes. Converting hair curves to tubes will allow a visual ​proximate representation of actual groomed hair volume in animation.
Tube Layer UI
Create Tube Layer:
  • Select curve(s), and click on this button to create a new tube layer.
Refresh List:
  • Sometimes a layer is deleted or when a new Maya scene is opened, click on this button to refresh the layer list so it can pick up correct layers in current scene.
Extract All Layers:
  • Makes a duplicate of proxy tubes from all tube layers.
Remove All Layers:
  • Delete all layers and the setup.

You can Copy & Paste a layer by right clicking on the 'xgtTubeGroup' button

Tube Control UI

Select Tubes:
  • Users can now click on this bottom on the very top of the UI to quickly select all tubes in this layer.
Template On Curve Toggle:
  • When this is turn on, curve toggling will also set template to the geometry. Sometimes this allows easier viewing of the geometry while moving CV's of curves.
Re-Cal Curve:
  • After manipulating curve CVs, if the length of the curve has changed, click on this button to re-length geometries to the length of curves.
Root Extend:
  • Sometimes the underlying head/body geo have curvatures, this allows the proxy tubes to ‘go into’ the head/body geo so there are no ‘gaps’.

Master Tab

Length SubD:
  • Controls the length subdivision of all tubes in the current layer.
Width SubD: 
  • Controls the width subdivision of all tubes in the current layer.
Scale: 
  • Controls the size of all tubes in the current layer.
​Scale X: 
  • Controls the scaling in the X-axis of all tubes in the current layer.
​Scale Z: 
  • Controls the scaling in the Z-axis of all tubes in the current layer.
Rotation:
  • ​Rotates all tubes in layer in degrees.
Twist:
  • Twists cards around the central axis. This setting needs to be coupled with the twist ramp.
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Target Tab
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Show Selected Tube(s) Control: 
  • Select tube(s) and click on this button to reveal individual controls for selected tube(s). Please note, adjusting settings from the Master Tab will reset settings for each individual tube.