You create fur by creating fur descriptions. A fur description defines all the attributes for a particular type of fur. These attributes include fur color, width, length, baldness, opacity, scraggle, curl, density, and more. For details of fur attributes, see Edit fur descriptions. You can also use any of the Fur Presets to get started; see Use Fur Presets.

You can attach a fur description to any single or multi-surface NURBS, polygonal or subdivision surface model. You can then style the fur, such as shorten or lengthen the fur on some parts of the model, using attribute value maps, or by painting fur attribute values directly on the model using Maya Artisan. When you apply fur attribute value maps, or paint fur attribute values, the global fur description attributes do not change. For information on styling fur, see Paint fur attribute values and Map fur attribute values.

You can also style fur and add dynamic movement to it using hair curves. Create hair curves and attach the hair system to the fur description so the fur is influenced by the shape and position of the hair curves. For more information, see Style fur using hair curves and Add movement to fur.

There are four ways to create fur descriptions:

• Create the fur description and automatically attach it to a selected surface.
• Create a fur description without attaching it to a surface.
• Duplicate an existing fur description.
• Apply a Fur Preset to the selected surface. (See Use Fur Presets.)

To create and attach a fur description

1. Select the surface(s) to apply fur to.
2. In the Rendering menu set select Fur > Attach Fur Description > New.

   Maya Fur creates a fur description and attaches it to the selected surfaces. Fur feedback automatically displays on the selected surfaces, providing you with a visual representation of the default fur attributes for the fur description. For information about fur feedback, see Preview fur using fur feedback.

3. Change the name of the fur description to something meaningful (for example, bodyFur or beardFur) and edit the fur description attributes. For details, see Edit fur descriptions.

To create an unattached fur description

1. In the Rendering menu set select Fur > Fur Description (more) > Create Unattached. Maya Fur creates a fur description called FurDescription. The new fur description is now available to attach to surfaces. For details, see Attach and detach fur.
2. Change the name of the fur description to something meaningful (for example, bodyFur or beardFur) and edit the fur description attributes. For details, see Edit fur descriptions.
   Note

   Select the fur description node in the Script Editor to make it available for editing in the Channel Box or the Hypergraph.

To duplicate a fur description

1. In the Rendering menu set select Fur > Fur Description (more) > Duplicate > FurDescriptionName, where FurDescriptionName is the name of the fur description you are duplicating. Maya Fur creates an identical fur description with the name FurDescriptionName1.
2. Change the name of the fur description to something meaningful (for example, bodyFur or beardFur) and edit the fur description attributes. For details, see Edit fur descriptions.