3D Toolkit - Transpose, Masking and Mesh Visibility (07/10/24)

Today, we looked at transpose, masking and mesh visibility. Below are the notes I made to help me remember and understand what to do.

Transpose

• Can transpose mesh using either the transpose line or Gizmo manipulator. This allows you to move, rotate and scale your model.
• Move, scale and rotate are next to the edit button. Gizmo 3D (Y) is next to rotate.
• Gizmo 3D is more like maya's move, rotate and scale functions

Gizmo 3D

• Gizmo offers same features found in transpose but it's condensed into a compact design. Press Y to swap between transpose and gizmo.
• Use Gizmo 3D by pressing W, E or R.
• To stop using Gizmo press Q.

• Manipulate Gizmo by holding alt. Options will appear. Here's what they do.
• Gear Icon = Access different deformer and bend modifiers.
• Pin = Enables sticky mode which will retain the Gizmo's location.
• Locator = Go to centre of unmasked areas of mesh. Most used for centring pivot.
• Home = Similar to locator, can be used to reposition entire mesh to centre BASED on where pivot is located.
• Circle Arrow = Resets orientation of pivot.
• Lock = Allows you to manipulate the pivot sperate from the mesh.
• Line = Allows you to transpose all subtools.

Masking

Masking temporarily protects an area allowing you to edit your work without affecting the nearby section.

• Hold ctrl outside the model and drag a shape onto the model. This will allow you to create a mask in the area you drag it to.
• You can change the size of the mask stroke by holding ctrl and changing the stroke in the left tray.
• To unmask hold ctrl and alt
• Paint masks on your object by holding the ctrl key while painting model. Masking from empty space will create a rectangular mask. Hold down ctrl key to change the masking brush to any shape.
• Hold both ctrl and spacebar and drag brush cursor to move around masking shape.
• If using dynamesh, masking in empty space will re-dynamesh your model.
• Inverse = hold ctrl, tap empty space or ctrl i
• Blur = hold ctrl and tap on surface of model
• Sharpen = Hold ctrl + alt and tap on surface of model
• Unmask = ctrl + drag off mesh

Mesh Visibility

Can show and hide parts of your mesh to make it easier to work on

• Hide Mesh = Hold shift + Ctrl
• Subtract Visibility =     hold shift + ctrl + alt
• Reveal all = Hold shift + Ctrl + tap on empty space

Subtools

Subtools are separate polygon objects

Each subtool can be equal to maximum number of polygons your system can handle. If your system handles 8 million polygons and you have 4 subtools then your model can be composed of 32 million polygons. 

Subtools are separate. You cant sculpt or pose multiple subtools at the same time.

Using these tools, I create the lower jaw to my skull. The process and finished model can be found here.