Create wire deformers

To create a wire deformer, you use the Wire Tool. The characteristics of the wire deformer you create depend on the Wire Tool’s tool settings. By default, the Wire Tool is set to create a wire deformer without holders.

Warning

Avoid changing the number of a deformable object’s points (for example, CVs, vertices, or lattice points) after you create a deformer. Changing the number of points can lead to unexpected deformation effects. Try to be sure you are happy with the deformable object’s topology before you begin using deformers. Save a copy of the object in case you want to do further modeling later on.

To specify wire tool settings

Select Create Deformers > Wire Tool > .
The Tool Settings window appears. See Create Deformers > Wire Tool.
Set the tool settings.
Do one of the following:
- Click Reset Tool to reset to the default tool settings.
- Click Close to close the Tool Settings window.
  Note
  You can change the tool settings when you are using the Wire Tool by selecting Window > Settings/Preferences > Tool Settings.

To create a wire deformer without holders

Set the Wire Tool’s Holders setting to off (the default is off).
Create the curve(s) you want to use as influence wire(s). For best results, place them on or near the deformable object(s).
Select Create Deformers > Wire Tool.
The cursor changes to a crosshair icon, and the Wire Tool icon is appears in the Tool Box. You are now ready to use the Wire Tool to create a wire deformer with the Wire Tool’s current tool settings.

The Help Line displays information to lead you through the process of creating a wire deformer.
Select the object(s) you want to deform, and press (Linux and Windows) or (Mac OS X) key.
Select all of the curves you want to use as influence wires.
If the only curves on the object’s surface are the curves you want to use as influence wires, drag the cursor over all the curves on the object. The Wire Tool automatically selects only the curves.
Press the or key.
A wire deformer is created based on the Wire Tool’s settings. The curves you selected are now influence wires that you can use to deform the object(s) you selected.

A base wire is created for each influence wire. The base wire(s) are listed in the Outliner. By default, they are not shown in the scene, but they do influence the deformation effect. The wire node calculates the deformation effect based on differences between each influence wire and its base wire.

A deformer set is created. The deformer set includes all the deformable object’s points that can be influenced by the wire deformer.

For more information on creating and editing deformation effects, see Editing wire deformation effects.

To create deformation effects

Move, rotate, or scale the influence wire(s).
Edit the wire deformer’s channels.

To create a wire deformer with a holder

Set the Wire Tool’s Holders setting to on (the default is off).
On or near the deformable object(s), create the curve(s) you want to use as influence wire(s).
On or near the deformable object(s), create the curve you want to use as a holder.
Select Create Deformers > Wire Tool.
The cursor changes to a cross-hair, and the Wire Tool icon appears in the Tool Box. You are now ready to use the Wire Tool to create a wire deformer with the Wire Tool’s current tool settings.

Note that the Help Line displays information to lead you through the process of creating a wire deformer.
Select the object(s) you want to deform, and press the (Linux and Windows) or (Mac OS X) key.
Select a curve that you want to use as an influence wire, and press the or key.
Select a holder curve and press or . An influence wire can only have one holder.
Clear the selection list by selecting empty space, and then press or .
Note
You can assign a holder to more than one influence wire. To do so, pick a curve that will be an influence wire, press or , then select the curve that will be a holder, and press or again. Pick the next curve that will be an influence wire, press or , then select the same holder curve, and press or again. Continue this process for each influence wire curve that will be assigned the holder curve.
When you are ready to create the wire deformer, clear the selection list by selecting empty space, and then press or .
A wire deformer is created based on the Wire Tool’s tool settings. The curves you selected are now influence wires that you can use to deform the object(s) you selected.

A base wire is created for each influence wire. The base wire(s) are listed in the Outliner. By default, they are not shown in the scene, but they do influence the deformation effect. The wire node calculates the deformation effect based on differences between each influence wire and its base wire.

A deformer set is created. The deformer set includes all the deformable object’s points that can be influenced by the wire deformer.

To create deformation effects

Move, rotate, or scale the influence wire(s).
Edit the wire deformer’s channels.
For more information on creating and editing deformation effects, see the next section, Editing wire deformation effects.

To add an influence wire

Select the curves you want to add to the deformer.
-click on any wire in the deformer to select the deformer to which you want add the curves as influence wires.
Select Edit Deformers > Wire > Add.
The selected curves become influence wires for the wire deformer.

To remove an influence wire

Select the curves that you want to remove as influence wires.
Select Edit Deformers > Wire > Remove.
The selected curves are no longer influence wires.

To reset influence wires

Select the influence wire(s) you want to reset.
Select Edit Deformers > Wire > Reset.

To display the base wire

Select the influence wire.
Select Edit Deformers > Wire > Show Base Wire.

To create a wire group

Select the influence wire.
Select Edit Deformers > Wire > Parent Base Wire.

A wires group is created that includes the influence wire and the base wire. The wires group is named after the influence wire and listed in the Outliner.

Wire deformer quick start

This section shows you how to create a typical wire deformer as quickly as possible.

In this example, you will deform a surface with an S-shaped curve, limiting the deformation region with a circle.

Example: Create a NURBS plane

Create a NURBS plane with Width 40, Length 40, Patches U 40, Patches V 40, and Surface Degree Cubic.
Create a curve for an influence wire. Draw an S-shaped curve on the center area of the plane using the CV Curve Tool or EP Curve Tool.
Create a circle for limiting the deformation region. For this example, the circle surrounds the S-shaped curve on the plane.

You’ll use the circle to limit the deformation region. A curve that limits the deformation region is called a holder.
Create the wire deformer by doing the following:
- Select Create Deformers > Wire Tool > .
- In the Tool Settings window, turn Holders on (default is off).
- Close the Tool Settings window.
In the workspace, note the cursor is now cross-shaped, indicating you are using the Wire Tool.

Be sure you do the next four steps in exactly the following order.
- Select the plane and press (Linux and Windows) or (Mac OS X).
- Select the S-shaped curve, and press or .
- Select the circle, and press or .
- Finally, select nothing in the workspace, and press or .
Selecting nothing tells Maya you are done selecting holders, and tells it to create the wire deformer.

Maya now creates a wire deformer. You can now manipulate the S-shaped curve to create deformation effects. Note that only the region within the circle can be affected.
Create deformations by doing the following:
- Select the S-shaped curve.
- Move the S-shaped curve up.
- Rotate the S-shaped curve to get a swirling “chakra” deformation effect.
The plane deforms upwards as if attracted to the S-curve.

The wire deformer uses the S-shaped curve to influence the shape of the deformation, so this curve is called an influence wire. Meanwhile, because the circle is limiting the deformation region, it’s called a holder.