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92 Chapter 11: Space Warps and Particle Systems
Pr ocedur es
Example: Create an animated tablecloth:
Finished tablec loth using FFD (Cyl) space warp
This example shows how to use the FFD(Cyl)
space warp to create a tablecloth that flies i n and
drapes itself over a table.
Begin by creat ing the table and tablecloth.
1. Create a table from two cylinders. Make the
table top with a radius of 30 units, and a height
of 2 units.Makethe"tablestand"cylinderwith
aradiusof3 and a height of 60.
2. Make a tablecloth from a box 100 units square
and 0.5 units in height. Increase Length
and Width Seg ments to 30,andkeepHeight
Segments at 1.
3. P osition the tablecloth so it’s level with or
slightly above the table top, and a little less than
100 units to the left of the table edge, as seen
from the Top view.
4. Apply a nice wood grain to the table, and a
checker to the tablecloth. (Set the checker t i ling
to about 15x15, and choose any color for the
checkers.)
Now, set up a c y lindrical FFD space warp that w il l
form the drape of the tablecloth over the table.
1. FromtheCreatepanel>SpaceWarps>
Geometric/Deformable, choose FFD(Cyl).
2. In the Top viewport, create a cy lindr ical FFD
space warp, centered on the table top, with a
radius of 45 and a height of 5.
3. Click the Set Number of Points button and, in
the Set FFD Dimensions di alog , se t Side points
to 12,Radialpointsto5, and Height points to 2.
4. MovetheentireFFDlatticeupuntilit’sjust
overthesurfaceofthetable,asseenfromthe
Fron t viewport.
Next, adjust the control points of the lattice to
drape over the table.
1. Zoom Extents All Selected.
2. On the Modify panel, in the stack display
(below "Modifier List"), click the FFD(cyl) item
soitturnsyellow.Thismeansyou’veenabled
direct access to the FFD space warps control
point sub-objects.
3. In the FFD Parameters rollout > Selection
group, turn on All X. This lets you select
control points around the perimeter of the FFD
cylinder.
4. In the Top viewport, use the Select and Move
tool (page 1–419)
and region-select the two
visible control points of the two outer rings
of control points at the nine-o’clock position.
(This is easier shown than described. You can
actually region-select any number of vertices
in the two outer concentric rings of vertices.