Maya Rendering Guides

Insert Isoparms

You've already come upon a modeling assignment for which you needed extra surface definition (that is, more spans) on a NURBS object. As you've already seen, it's a matter of selecting an isoparm, and choosing Edit NURBS * Insert Isoparms. This creates an isoparm and redefines the surface to add more spans. This function is used to make extra detailed parts of a NURBS surface to allow for smoother deformations, for example, adding an isoparm or two to the elbow joint of a model to make the arm bend with a cleaner crease (see Figure 5.114). You can either create a new isoparm between two already existing ones or add isoparms to your own defined area.

Figure 5.114 Inserting isoparms for a smoother deformation