CURVE TO TWISTS
A tool to allow converting of curves to twists with layering management. Please visit this video for demonstration
Twist Layer UI
Create Twist Layer:
  • Select curve(s), and click on this button to create a new twist 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.
Remove All Layers:
  • Delete all layers and the setup.

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

Twist Control UI

Select Twists:
  • Users can now click on this bottom on the very top of the UI to quickly select all twists 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.
Global Curve:
  • Toggles the main curve(s) in component mode. Moving the CVs on these curve(s) will move all together your twist strands.
Strand Curve:
  • Toggles the all individual curve(s) in component mode.
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.
Preset:
  • User can choose a 'style' for twisting strands. Switching preset will overwrite all existing settings. 
Count: 
  • Reading from the preset option, populates the amount of sub strands for the twist.

Master Tab

Length SubD:
  • Controls the length subdivision of all cards in the current layer.
Width SubD: 
  • Controls the width subdivision of all tubes in the current layer.
Distance: 
  • Controls the distance, to the main central axis (global curves) of all twist(s) in the current layer. Increasing this will push the sub strands further away from center.
Rotation:
  • ​Rotates all strand(s) around the central axis (global curves) in degrees.
Twist:
  • Twists all strand(s) around the central axis (global curves). This setting needs to be coupled with the twist ramp.

Sub Tab

Scale:
  • Controls the scale of all sub strands in the current layer.
Length: 
  • Controls the length of all sub strands in the current layer.
Scale Rand %: 
  • Randomize the scale for all sub strands in the current layer. A setting of 100.00 will randomly scale between 0~100%. A setting of 20.00 randomly scale the strands between 80%~100%.
Length Rand %:
  • Randomize the length for all sub strands in the current layer. A setting of 100.00 randomly sets length between 0~100%. A setting of 20.00 randomly set length between 80%~100%.
Scale + - :
  • Multiplier to increase or reduce the scale of each sub strand.
Length + - :
  • Multiplier to increase or reduce the length of each sub strand. The maximum length of sub strand will not exceed the length of it's counterpart strand curve.
All Rotation:
  • Rotates all strand(s) around its own axis (strand curve) in degrees.
All Twist:
  • Twists all strand(s) around its own axis (strand curve) . This setting needs to be coupled with the twist ramp.

Target Tab
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Show Selected Tube(s) Control: 
  • Select card(s), and click on this button to reveal individual controls for selected card(s). Please note, adjusting settings from the Master Tab and Sub Tab will reset settings for each individual tube.