Use point maps

You can specify point locations on the surface of the polygon mesh that is bound to an XGen Description. Maya saves these point locations as a map and stores the information as a point .xuv file. By default, the file is saved to Description's Points folder. The file name is based on the polygon object bound to the Description. See Manage XGen files and Map file locations.

Use point maps to specify locations for the following:

Primitive generation
Clumping guides for Clumping modifiers
Animation wires for AnimWire modifiers

Note To use the same points map, Descriptions must be bound to geometry with the same topology.

Use point maps to specify locations for primitives

Create a Description with Generate the Primitives set to At points you specify. See Create an XGen Description.
In the XGen Window, click the Primitives tab.
In the Generator Attributes section, click Specify Points.
The Specify Points Tool window appears. A circle icon replaces the cursor, which indicates that you can add points to this area of the geometry.
Do one of the following:
- To use an existing points (.xuv) file, click Revert to Last Saved in the Specify Points Tool .
  Maya loads the last points file that was created for the Description.
- To create new point locations, click these areas of the polygon surface.
  Yellow markers appear at the specified locations. When the Description is previewed, primitives generate at the point locations.
  
  NoteTo Increase or decrease the radius of the Specify Points Tool, press the B key and drag your mouse.
(Optional) Make the point markers larger or smaller using Points Display Length.
Click Save and Close.
Primitives display in the specified locations.

Use point maps for AnimWire and ClumpingModifiers

In the Generate Maps (AnimWire) or Generate Clumping Map (Clumping) window, do one of the following:
- To use a points map you already created for the Description, click Load.
- To create a new points map, set the Density and click Generate.
  NoteIf you are creating a Modifier that is using a clumping map, you may need to set Density to a value that is higher than the point Density of the first clumping map.
- To create new point locations, click these areas of the polygon surface.
- To use the place points at the Description guide locations, click Guide.
  You can use method if your Description uses guides to control primitives.
(Optional) Make the point markers larger or smaller using Points Display Length.
To apply a Mask to the point map, click and select an option from the list.
See Create a PTEX map to control primitives.
Click Save.

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