Working With Vertex Maps Procedurally

You can create Vertex maps and assign weight values, seams, and RGBA values to them non-destructively using mesh operations. The tools are accessible from the Mesh Operations List.

Tip:  For more information on procedural modeling and mesh operations, see Procedural Modeling.

The easiest way to access the Mesh Operations list is using the Modo layout.

1. Click the thin bar above the 3D viewport, indicated by a small arrow in the middle.
   This reveals additional controls.

   

2. Click the Mesh Operations list button.
   The Mesh Operations List opens on the right.

   

Creating a New Vertex Map Procedurally

The Create Vertex Map mesh operation allows you to create a new vertex map from the Mesh Operations list.

1. In the Mesh Operations list, click Add Operator, and under Mesh Operations > Vertex Map, double-click Create Vertex Map.
   The Create Vertex Map mesh operation is added to the list and its Properties are displayed on the right pane.

   

2. In the Create Vertex Map Properties, enter a new Map Name and Map Value.
   You have the following Map Value options:
   

   • Weight - Stores weight strength values for falloffs and texturing.

   • UV Seam - Stores information on the seam edges from a UV map.

   • RGB - Defines a vertex color map based on red, green, and blue color values.

   • RGBA - Defines a vertex color map based on red, green, and blue color values and an additional transparency (Alpha) value.

   Your new Vertex Map is created and listed in the Vertex Map List.

   

Setting Weight Values

You can set weight values to a specified Weight map using the Set Weight mesh operation.

Tip:  Enable the Show Weightmaps button at the top of the 3D viewport to see the weight values in the viewport.

You need to create a Weight map for your mesh, as described in Creating a New Vertex Map Procedurally. Then set weights the following way:

1. In the Vertex Maps list on the lower right, under Weight Maps, select the weight map you created.

   

2. In the Item List, select your mesh item and in the 3D viewport, select the vertices, edges, or polygons for which you want to set weights.

   

3. In the Mesh Operations list, under Mesh Operations > Vertex Map, double-click Set Weight.
   This adds the Set Weight mesh operation to the list and opens its properties in the Properties panel on the right pane.
4. In the Set Weight Properties, select the Map Type you want to use. A Weight Map is embedded on the mesh, while a Weight Container is a separate item.

   Note:  For more information on Weight Maps and Weight Containers, see Working with Weight Maps.

5. Set Map Name to the name of the Weight Map you want to use, in our example, 'pWeight'.
   If you have Show Weightmaps enabled in the Default view, the selected part of the mesh is colored red in the 3D viewport, indicating that the default 100% map value is assigned to it.

   

6. Adjust the Map Value to set the weight value.

Set Weight Properties

Enable	Enables/disables the Set Weight mesh operation.
Use World Transform	Sets the coordinates from Model Space to World Space where vertices are defined relative to an origin common to all the objects in a scene.
Selection Type	The element type selected. This mesh operation can take a Vertex, Edge, or Polygon selection.
Map Type	Set if you want to use a Weight Map or a Weight Container. For more information on the differences, see Working with Weight Maps. Note:  If Map Type is set to Weight Map and the map can't be found, a new Weight Map is created.
Map Name	The name of the Weight Map to edit.
Map Value	The weight value to be applied to the selected elements.
Additive	When enabled, the Map Value is added to the current map value. When disabled, the current map value is set to the amount specified in Map Value.

Setting Edge Weight Values

You can set edge weight values on a subdivision map using the Set Edge Weight mesh operation.

1. In the Item List, select your mesh item and in the 3D viewport, select the edges for which you want to set weights.

   

2. In the Mesh Operations list, under Mesh Operations > Vertex Map, double-click Set Edge Weight.
   This adds the Set Weight mesh operation to the list and opens its properties in the Properties panel on the right pane.
3. In the Set Edge Weight Properties, set the Map Value to the required percentage.
   The edges are modified in the viewport.
   

Map Value 0%	Map Value 25%	Map Value 50%

Set Seam

You can use the Set Seam mesh operation to set the values of a UV Seam (Cut) map. This is the procedural version of the direct modeling Cut Map tool.

Note:  For more information on the Cut Map tool, see Creating Seams.

You need to create a UV Seam map for your mesh, as described in Creating a New Vertex Map Procedurally. Then set seam values the following way:

1. In the Vertex Maps list on the lower right, under Other Maps, select the UV Seam map you created.
2. In the Item List, select your mesh item and in the 3D viewport, select the edges for which you want to set seam values.

   

3. In the Mesh Operations list, under Mesh Operations > Vertex Map, double-click Set Seam.
   This adds the Set Seam mesh operation to the list and opens its properties in the Properties panel on the right pane.
4. In the Set Seam Properties, set Map Name to the name of the UV Seam map you want to use.
   Seams are added along the selected edges. In the 3D viewport, the seams are highlighted in blue.

   

   
   You can then use the UV Unwrap mesh operation to create UVs cut along the new seams. For more information, see Procedural UV Unwrap.

Set Seam Properties

Enable	Enables/disables the Set Seam mesh operation.
Use World Transform	Sets the coordinates from Model Space to World Space where vertices are defined relative to an origin common to all the objects in a scene.
Map Name	The name of the UV Seam map to edit.

Set RGB

You can set values on RGB/A maps using the Set RGB mesh operation.

You need to create an RGB or RGBA map for your mesh, as described in Creating a New Vertex Map Procedurally. Then set the values the following way:

1. In the Item List, select your mesh item and in the 3D viewport, select the vertices, edges, or polygons for which you want to set the values.

   

2. In the Mesh Operations list, under Mesh Operations > Vertex Map, double-click Set RGB.
   This adds the Set RGB mesh operation to the list and opens its properties in the Properties panel on the right pane.
3. In the Set RGB Properties, set the relevant Map Type, set Map Name to the name of the RGB or RGBA map you want to use, and edit the Map Values.
   The color of the selected vertices is updated in the 3D viewport.

   

Set RGB Properties

Enable	Enables/disables the Set RGB mesh operation.
Use World Transform	Sets the coordinates from Model Space to World Space where vertices are defined relative to an origin common to all the objects in a scene.
Selection Type	The element type selected. This mesh operation can take a Vertex, Edge, or Polygon selection.
Map Type	Choose between RGB and RGBA maps. For more information on the differences, see Working with Weight Maps. Note:  If a map of the set type can't be found, a new map is created.
Map Name	The name of the map to edit.
Map Value -R/G/B/A	The red, green, blue, and alpha values. Note:  Map Value - A is only used if Map Type is set to RGBA.
Alpha Uses Falloff	If you're using a falloff with this option enabled, the falloff weight is applied to the Alpha value. When disabled, Alpha is a set value. Alpha Uses Falloff disabled Alpha Uses Falloff enabled
Additive	When enabled, the Map Value is added to the current map value. When disabled, the current map value is set to the amount specified in Map Value.

Mesh Operation Inputs

Set Weight, Set Edge Weight, Set Seam, and Set RGB all have inputs you can edit in the Mesh Operations list. You can expand them in the list by clicking the arrow in front of them. This reveals the inputs the operation uses.

The Inputs of Set Seam

• Tool Pipe - Add falloffs and sub-tools to the operation. For example, instead of selecting vertices, edges, or polygons, you can use falloffs to create a selection.

• Selection - Select vertices/edges/polygons or modify your existing selection. For more information on procedural selection, see Procedural Selection.

Vertex Maps in the Schematic

The Vertex Map mesh operations are also available in the Schematic.

Create Vertex Map and Set Weight in the Schematic

To open the Schematic viewport:

• In the Modo layout, click the thin gray line below the 3D viewport, and click the Schematic viewport button.

>

MadCap:conditions="Default.NoTranslate">OR

• Switch to the Setup layout from the menu bar by clicking Layout > Layouts > Setup.

To access the Vertex Map tools, click Add... . The Vertex Map tools can be found under Mesh Operations > Vertex Map.