Maya 8 at a Glance

Chapter 7: Paint Effects

Paint Effects Basics

2

• Paint Effects is a tool that works like a paint brush

• Paint Effects can paint 2D effects and textures

• Paint Effects can paint 3D objects, such as grass or trees

The Visor

3

• The Visor contains a library of preset brushes for paint effects

Basics

4

• Brushes can be used to create paint, natural objects, hair, and other effects

• When a brush is applied to the scene, it creates a curve known as a stroke

Paint Effects Window

5

• Offers increased performance for painting

• Enables abilities to blur and smear brushes in 3D

• 2D paintings can be created in this window

Paint Effects Window

6

• Scene Mode– Works much like any 3D viewport– Brushes are fully rendered– You can use Blur and Smear in 3D– Easy access to brush attributes

• Canvas Mode– Undo is limited to one level– Only images are applied when painting,

so post stroke editing is not possible

Brush Types

7

• Paint: Applies paint to the canvas

• Smear: Distorts paint already applied

• Blur: Softens the look of the paint

• Erase: Removes the color from the painted pixels, revealing the underlying canvas

• Thin Line: Used to render large numbers of fine tubes quickly

• Mesh: Renders Paint Effects using mesh-based tubes instead of brush stamps

Brush Attributes

8

• Brush Profile: Controls the size and shape of the brush as well as softness

• Shading: Controls how the brush stroke is rendered

• Illumination: Allows the brush to appear 3D, much like a tube

• Shadow Effects: Gives a brush the ability to cast shadows into the scene

• Texturing: Allows you to apply some procedural and bitmapped textures to the brush

Tubes

9

• A tube is an object that grows at angles from a stroke

• Often used to simulate grass, hair, and complex objects

• Tubes can branch out, creating flowers, leaves, twigs, and branches