Smoothing Modifier Question

celticarchie

I'm using V4 with a mermaid tail. I want to use a smoothing modifier to make the blend between V4 and the tail better.

It works, but it also smooths the parts of V4's legs that are invisible.

How do I get it to ignore these invisible parts, but still smooth what I want it to smooth?

Si :ohh:

Szark

You can't but in DS4.5+ you can use the Polygon Group Editor Tool to select the legs (make them visible first) and once selected, Hide and then Delete hidden polys. If you don't know how after dinner I was spell out the steps, unless someone beats me to it.

Novica

Am I missing something? What does it matter if it smooths the parts of the legs that aren't shown? And if they aren't shown, how do you know they are smoothing if you aren't seeing them?

"but it also smooths the parts of V4’s legs that are invisible."

Szark

The geometry is still there and will effect smoothing even if hidden, hence making a Geometry shell and hiding it will still effect collision and smoothing. The only way I know to stop this happening is to remove the polygons totally.

celticarchie

Yeah, see here's the problem.

Although the legs are invisible, the smoothing modifier still follows their shape, when it doesn't need to.

celticarchie

Szark said:

You can't but in DS4.5+ you can use the Polygon Group Editor Tool to select the legs (make them visible first) and once selected, Hide and then Delete hidden polys. If you don't know how after dinner I was spell out the steps, unless someone beats me to it.

A step by step would be appreciated.

Thanks

Si :ohh:

Szark

Choose the Polygon Group Editor Tool (PGE) from the Tools Menu.

Hide the Tali and show the legs.

Here I have used a Cylinder.

Left mouse click on a polygon
Right Click brings up the Tool's control menus as shown in image 1.

Polygon Selection:
-Mode; the first sub menu gives you the options for selecting polygons.
-Rectangle Selection; draw a box in the viewport window with the left mouse button to select polygons.
-Lasso;, with the left mouse button held draw a freehand shape around the selection of polygons.
-Drag Selection; left click and hold and move the mouse over the mesh and it selects any polygon in the path.

All the selection functions above use holding down Ctrl for selecting more polygons after the mouse button is released. If you don't hold down Ctrl and click again the previous selection is be deselected.

Image 2 To hide the selection
Right click to bring up the tool menu, next sub menu down
Polygon Visibility:
-Hide Selected; does just that.

Image 3
Right Click
Polygon Editing:
-Delete Hidden Facet/s; deletes the hidden polygons permanently

Image 4
A advisory box pops up making sure, as you cannot undo the deletion. You would have to start over or from your last save..
I save in increments when deleting a lot of polys. especially around joining meshes, like the mermaid's tail. Work from the feet up and then save. Select some more save a new named file. I name and number mine. As you get close show the tail to gauge and then hide again and continue.

The PGE is also great for selecting polygons and making them into a new material zones with UVmapping in tact.

Novica

To finish off that tutorial, if you keep the polygon groups, you will find the polygon groups you named over in the Surfaces tab and by sliding the slider of the opacity to zero the surfaces you have selected disappear.

celticarchie

Mine is missing the Delete facet(s) option?

Si :ohh:

Szark

If you are using an older version of Daz Studio you might find it in Tool Settings Pane in the Options Menu (small square striped box in the corner of the pane)

celticarchie

Thanks, I think I found it! :cheese:

I'll give it a try in a sec.

Si :ohh: