Curve to Proxy Tubes

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.

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.

Target Tab

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.