Overview of MEL script painting

A MEL script is a file that contains MEL commands, MEL procedures, or both. Typically, you use a MEL script to create custom effects. Using the Artisan Paint Scripts Tool, you can paint these effects on your surfaces the same way you paint weights. There are three sample scripts for you to try:

• spherePaint – Use this script to paint spheres on a selected NURBS surface. It is included as an example just to help you write your own MEL scripts.
• geometryPaint – Use this script to select predefined objects in your scene and then paint them on a selected surface. For example, if the object is a cone, you can paint cones on the surface using the geometryPaint script. The Paint Scripts Tool settings determine the size, position, angle, and density of the cones.

  See geometryPaint sample script settings.

• emitterPaint – Use the emitterPaint script to paint emitters on surfaces. Emitters generate particles. The attributes of the emitter control the position, direction, quantity, and initial velocity of the emitted particles when they are born. After the particle is born, the attributes of the particle object that the emitter is connected to control the particle’s appearance. For more details about emitters, see the Dynamics guide.

  See emitterPaint sample script settings.

These scripts are stored on the following directories:

• (Windows) Drive:\Program Files\Autodesk\Maya2013\scripts\others
• (Linux) mayapath/scripts/others
• (Mac OS X) /Applications/Autodesk/maya2013/Maya.app/Contents/scripts/others

You might find these examples helpful when you are writing your own MEL scripts. These scripts have not been thoroughly tested and therefore are not supported. For details on creating your own scripts, see the MEL and Expressions guide.