2010

Table Of Contents
4 In the front view, click the numbered positions as shown in the figure.
Make sure the first and last positions are on the grids Y-axis (the thickest
vertical line of the front views grid).
Also, click three times in the same spot for positions 9, 10, and 11. This
is necessary to create a sharp point or corner in the curve.
To change the position of the most recent point clicked, you can
middle-mouse drag it.
5 (Windows and Linux) After you click position 13, press Enter to complete
the curves creation.
(Mac OS X) Press Return to complete the curves creation.
The points you clicked in the scene view become the control vertices
(CVs) of the completed curve. CVs are points you manipulate to alter the
shape of a curve (or surface). These points often lie away from the curve.
It takes a little practice to be able to predict exactly where a curve will be
positioned when you click CV positions with the CV Curve Tool. Once
youve learned the technique, youll be able to create and edit curves with
graceful symmetry. By default, you must click at least four points to create
a curve with the CV Curve Tool.
For some advanced operations in Maya, you need to know the meaning
of the start of a curve and the curve direction. The start of a curve is the first
CV you create when you draw the curve. It is indicated by a small hollow
152 | Chapter 4 NURBS Modeling