How to use Creep
1) Installation
Download the mel-script creep from this link if you donīt have it already:
http://www.renderwahnsinn.de/scripts/creep.mel
Now copy this script in C:\Documents and Settings\<yourName>\MyDocuments\maya\scripts!
(German Version: C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\<deinName>\\Eigene Dateien\maya\scripts)
Restart maya or type rehash at the command line to reread all scripts.
2) Draw the basic curve
Switch to the Top - View (Press & Hold Spacebar -> right mouse button on alias and move to the left) and draw
a simple curve ( create > CV curve tool).
3) Run Creep
Make sure the curve is selected and start creep by entering creep; in the command line
in the lower left corner of your screen. You can also create a shelf icon for this command.
4) Adjust Creep Growth
The Creep Controller should be selected already. Make the creep structure grow
along the curve by changing the "Percent" attribute. You can do this by selecting the attribute
with the left mouse button and then moving from side to side while holding the middle mouse button.
Of course you can also enter values. The last 3 parameters switch visibility of creep components on and off.
5) Scale Control Circles
Select a control circle and scale it (r-key) to shape the structure. You can press the left / right
cursor button to walk along control circles. To scale many circles at a time try using smartTransform!
http://www.renderwahnsinn.de/scripts/smartTransform.mel
6) Rotate and Move Star Controllers
Select a star controller and rotate it (e-key). You can walk along
your current selection by pressing ctrl+left / ctrl+right.
You can also move all underlying star controllers (w-key).
7) Adjust curve shape by moving square controllers
But be carefull: Shaping your curve with square controllers wonīt affect
star controller positiion, so they will become unpredictable although they still work.
8) See how the structure behaves when growing
Play around with the "percent"-parameter of the creep controller to see how
the structure behaves when "growing" along the curve.
9) Change the Up-Vector
If your surface seems twisted try changing the up vector in the parameters of your creep
controller to fix it.
10) Blend in dynamic Animation
Now you can start playing around with the dynamic Animation. Change the "Dynamic Amount"
Parameter to blend to the dynamic curve. Increase the turbulence to increase the motion.
Also watch how the dynamic animation works in cunjunction with animated square controllers.
Dynamic Animation wonīt work for very complex curves.
11) Digging deeper into dynamic Animation
If you feel confident with your dynamic animation I recommend creating a cache file for it which will
allow you to scrub freely in the time slider without strange results. Select the hair node in the outliner and
cache it (> Hair>create Cache)!
To change which ends of the dyanmic curve should be pinned to the original curve select the blue curve
again, convert the selection to a follice ( >Hair>Convert Selection>to Follicles) and change the Point Lock
value.
12) Last Words
Well, thatīs all for the moment! If you use creep I would be glad to see the results you
receive! Creep is still in development, if you got some suggestions for the new versions
donīt hesitate to get in contact!
Enjoy!