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pointOnSurface( [objects] , [constructionHistory=boolean],
[normal=boolean], [normalizedNormal=boolean],
[normalizedTangentU=boolean],
[normalizedTangentV=boolean],
[parameterU=float], [parameterV=float], [position=boolean], [tangentU=boolean], [tangentV=boolean], [turnOnPercentage=boolean])
Note: Strings representing object names and
arguments must be separated by commas. This is not depicted in the
synopsis.
pointOnSurface is undoable, queryable, and editable.
This command returns information for a point on a surface. If no
flag is specified, this command assumes p/position by default. If
more than one flag is specifed, then a string array is returned.
In query mode, return type is based on queried flag.
constructionHistory,
normal, normalizedNormal, normalizedTangentU, normalizedTangentV, parameterU, parameterV, position, tangentU,
tangentV, turnOnPercentage
| Long name (short name) |
Argument types |
Properties |
parameterU(u) |
float |
  |
|
The U parameter value on surface
Default: 0.0 |
|
parameterV(v) |
float |
|
|
The V parameter value on surface
Default: 0.0 |
|
turnOnPercentage(top) |
boolean |
|
|
Whether the parameter is normalized (0,1) or not
Default: false |
|
position(p) |
boolean |
 |
|
Returns the (x,y,z) positon of the specified point on the
surface |
|
normal(no) |
boolean |
|
|
Returns the (x,y,z) normal of the specified point on the
surface |
|
normalizedNormal(nn) |
boolean |
|
|
Returns the (x,y,z) normalized normal of the specified point on
the surface |
|
tangentU(tu) |
boolean |
|
|
Returns the (x,y,z) U tangent of the specified point on the
surface |
|
normalizedTangentU(ntu) |
boolean |
|
|
Returns the (x,y,z) normalized U tangent of the specified point
on the surface |
|
tangentV(tv) |
boolean |
|
|
Returns the (x,y,z) V tangent of the specified point on the
surface |
|
normalizedTangentV(ntv) |
boolean |
|
|
Returns the (x,y,z) normalized V tangent of the specified point
on the surface |
|
| Common flags |
constructionHistory(ch) |
boolean |
|
|
Turn the construction history on or off |
|
| Flag can appear in Create mode of
command |
Flag can appear in Edit mode of command |
| Flag can appear in Query mode of command |
 Flag can have multiple arguments, passed
either as a tuple or a list. |
import maya.cmds as cmds
cmds.pointOnSurface( 'surface1', u=0.5, v=1.0, position=True )
# Returns the (x,y,z) position of the surface at parameter (u=0.5,v=1.0).
infoNode = cmds.pointOnSurface('surface1', ch= True, u=0.55, v=0.33)
cmds.getAttr(infoNode + ".position" ) # returns the position
# The pointOnSurface command returns a string which is the name of
# a new pointOnSurfaceInfo dependency node. With this node connected
# to the surface, the output values of the pointOnSurfaceInfo node
# are always current even if, for example, the surface parameters are
# being animated.