Hi PaQ, in the other thread (over here:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=1591.5) you wrote:
> I'm not talking here about artisan to create high density details
> and alll this stuff, but maybe just a way to build patch
> (network ?) and somehow nicely blend them together :o)
You can create the initial patches using Network in MoI, that initial creation is not really a problem.
But in the refinement stages you'll need some tools like Match, Rebuild, inserting points, merging surfaces, ...
The problem is that even with all this stuff it doesn't really pay off in an easy to use methodology to create a smooth final surface, even with those additional tools, it is very easy to have creasing happen between different patches. Sometimes it is not technically a crease, it can be technically smooth in an area but if the surface curavture is not very evenly distributed and is kind of bunched up right along the edge, that can create a kind of disturbing looking lump that is just about as bad as a crease anyway.
For instance if you follow that lizard head patch tutorial for Maya (
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/modeling/nurbs/158-2.html), you will see stuff like this stated in it:
quote:
Tweak tweak and tweak until you're satisfied with the result. Some helpful tools are aligning, edge stitching ('Edit Surfaces - Stitch - Stitch edges tool'), rebuilding, and of course CV pulling.
quote:
It might still need more tweaking since you can see some creasing between the patches, but I'll leave it there for this tutorial. Also when textured it won't be this apparent.
There is quite a lot of fiddling around there.
This all just fits together so much easier with so much less hassle for this kind of a thing using a Subd approach instead of this.
MoI should get these additional tools in it to enable this kind of patch thing (probably several will be coming in v2), but that won't solve the problem that this method is a pretty big hassle overall.
Why not use a tool that is completely designed around that type of thing instead?
You're better off using the right tools for the job at hand. I mean if you have a screwdriver, you can still probably hammer in a nail with the bottom of it, but wouldn't you rather use a hammer for hammering nails instead of a screwdriver for hammering nails?
- Michael
