nClothShape

Collisions

Collide: When on, the current nCloth object collides with passive objects, nParticle objects, and other nCloth objects that share the same Maya Nucleus solver. When off, the current nCloth object does not collide with passive objects, nParticle objects or any other nCloth objects.
Self Collide: When on, the current nCloth object collides with its own output mesh. When off, the current nCloth does not collide with its own output mesh.

Collision Flag

Specifies which of the current nCloth object’s components participate in its collisions.

Vertex: The current nCloth object’s vertices collide. Collisions occur at the collision spheres that surround each of the nCloth’s vertices.
Edge: The current nCloth object’s edges collide. Collisions occur at the collision cylinders that surround each of the nCloth’s edges.
Face: The current nCloth object’s faces collide. Collisions occur at the collision surface that is offset from the nCloth’s faces. Note that when the nCloth’s Thickness value is greater than 0.0, its face collisions are the sum of its vertex, edge, and face collisions. This extends and rounds the borders of the collision surface.

Self Collision Flag

Specifies which of the current nCloth object’s components participate in its self-collisions. Self Collision Flag also determines which type of self-collision volume is used by the nCloth.

Vertex: The current nCloth object’s vertices collide with each other. Collisions occur at the self-collision spheres that surround each of the nCloth’s vertices.
VertexEdge: The current nCloth object’s vertices and edges collide with each other. Collisions occur at the self-collision spheres that surround each of the nCloth’s vertices and at the self-collision cylinders that surround each of the nCloth’s edges.
VertexFace: The current nCloth object’s vertices and faces collide with each other. Collisions occur at the self-collision spheres that surround each of the nCloth’s vertices and at the self-collision surface that is offset from the nCloth’s faces. Note that the sum of the vertex and face self-collisions extends and rounds the self-collision surface’s borders.
Full Surface: The current nCloth object’s vertices, edges, and faces collide with each other. Collisions occur at the self-collision spheres that surround each of the nCloth’s vertices, at the self-collision cylinders that surround each of the nCloth’s edges, and at the self-collision surface that is offset from the nCloth’s faces. Note that the sum of the vertex, edge, and face self-collisions extends and rounds the self-collision surface’s borders.

Collide Strength: Specifies the strength of collisions between the nCloth object and other Nucleus objects. At the default value of 1, the object fully collides with itself or other Nucleus objects. Collide Strength values between 0 and 1 dampen the full collision, while 0 turns off the object's collisions (which is the same as turning off the object's Collide attribute).

You can use Paint Vertex Properties or Paint Texture Properties to paint Collide Strength values on a per- vertex basis to dampen or disable collisions on selected vertices. See Collide Strength.
Collision Layer: Assigns the current nCloth object to a specific collision layer. Collision Layers determine how nCloth objects, nParticle objects, and passive objects that share the same Maya Nucleus solver interact. This is useful when layering nCloth clothing.

nCloth objects on the same collision layer collide normally. However, when nCloth objects are on different layers, the nCloth objects on lower value layers will have priority over nCloth objects on higher value layers. So an nCloth object on collision layer 0.0 will push an nCloth object on collision layer 1.0, which in turn will push the nCloth object on collision layer 2.0. This collision priority occurs in the range set by the Collision Layer Range attribute on the nucleus node.

For example, the passive object skin of a character is on collision layer 0.0, its nCloth shirt is on collision layer 1.0, and its nCloth jacket is on collision layer 2.0. If the Collision Layer Range is 1.0, then the shirt interacts with the skin and the jacket, but the jacket and skin do not interact because their values vary by more than 1. Also, because of the collision priority, the shirt pushes the jacket, but the jacket does not push the shirt; the jacket behaves as if the shirt is a deforming passive object.

When the collision layer difference for two objects is 1.0 or more, the lower layer is essentially rigid relative to the higher layer. For collision layer differences less than one, the relative push (or mass) becomes more equal.

Note
Passive objects and nParticle objects in collision layers only collide with nCloth objects that are in the same collision layer, or in layers of higher value.
Thickness: Specifies the radius or depth of the current nCloth object’s collision volumes. nCloth collision volumes are non-renderable surfaces offset from an nCloth’s vertices, edges, and faces that the Maya Nucleus solver uses when calculating self-collisions or passive object collisions.

Collisions occur at an nCloth’s collision volumes, not at the surface of the nCloth object itself. The following collision volumes are used by nCloth: collision spheres for vertex collisions, collision cylinders for edge collisions, and collision planes for face collisions. Each collision volume on an nCloth has the same radius or depth unless overridden by a Thickness Map. See Collision Properties Maps.

Thickness also determines how thick your nCloth appears.

For example, a value of 0.0 creates thin nCloth (such as silk) and a value of 1.0 creates thick nCloth (such as felt).
Self Collide Width Scale: Specifies a self-collision scale value for the current nCloth object. Self Collide Width Scale allows you to scale an nCloth’s output meshes’ thickness to improve self-collisions. This value is defined relative to Thickness. For example, if Self Collide Width Scale is 1.0, then the width or depth for self-collisions is the same value as the nCloth’s Thickness. Self Collide Width Scale is 1.0 by default.

This is especially useful with vertex self collisions to make the self collide spheres overlap without requiring too great a width.

Solver Display

Specifies what Maya Nucleus solver information is displayed in the scene view for the current nCloth object. Solver Display can help you better diagnose and troubleshoot any problems you may be having with your nCloth.

Off: No Maya Nucleus solver information is displayed in the scene view.
Collision Thickness: When on, the collision volumes for the current nCloth object are displayed in the scene view. Collision Thickness helps you visualize an nCloth’s thickness and it is useful when tweaking an nCloth’s collisions with other nCloth objects or and nParticle and passive objects. The appearance of the current nCloth’s collision volumes is determined by its Collision Flag. See Collision Flag.

NoteDuring simulation, Maya reduces the relative Collision Thickness of objects so that they do not overlap at the start frame. This avoids sudden popping at the start frame, but in some cases, may cause added friction. You cannot see the effects of the thickness reduction in the scene view.
To avoid this, model the start state so that the surfaces with thickness do not overlap. In addition, you can use Edit nCloth > Initial State > Resolve Interpenetration to fix subtle overlaps.
Self Collision Thickness: When on, the self-collision volumes for the current nCloth object are displayed in the scene view. Self Collision Thickness helps you visualize an nCloth’s self-collision thickness and it is useful when tweaking an nCloth’s self-collisions.
Stretch Links: The nCloth’s stretch links are displayed in the scene view.
Bend Links: The nCloth’s bend links that are used to calculate bending in the nCloth are highlighted in the scene view.
Weighting: The nCloth vertices that are calculated first, when Sort Stretch Links is turned on, are highlighted in the scene view. Large vertices are typically calculated first.

Display Color: Specifies the color of the collision volumes for the current nCloth object. Display Color is only visible when your scene view display mode is set to Shading > Smooth Shade Selected Items or Shading > Flat Shade Selected Items.
Bounce: Specifies the springiness or bounciness of the current nCloth object. Bounce determines the amount of the nCloth’s deflection or rebound on collision with itself, nParticle objects, passive objects, or other nCloth objects that share the same Maya Nucleus solver.

The amount of Bounce an nCloth should have is determined by its type of fabric or material. For example, an nCloth with a Bounce of 0.0 would not be bouncy (such as concrete) and an nCloth with a Bounce of 0.9 would be very bouncy (such as rubber). Bounce is 0.0 by default.

Note
Bounce values greater than 1.0 can cause instability and should be avoided. While cloth is not normally bouncy, you can increase Bend Resistance to create more bouncy collisions, and use Deform Resistance or Rigidity to help the bouncing object keep its shape.
Friction: Specifies the amount of friction for the current nCloth object. Friction determines how much an nCloth resists relative motion on collision with itself, nParticle objects, passive objects, and other nCloth objects that share the same Maya Nucleus solver.

The amount of Friction an nCloth should have is determined by its type of fabric or material. For example, an nCloth with a Friction of 0.0 would be fairly smooth (such as silk) and an nCloth with a Friction of 1.0 would be fairly rough (such as burlap). Friction is 0.1 by default.

The affect of Friction is influenced by the nCloth’s Stickiness value. See also Stickiness.
Stickiness: Stickiness specifies the tendency of the nCloth object to stick to other Nucleus objects when nCloth, nParticle, and passive objects collide.

Stickiness and Friction are similar attributes in that Stickiness is an adhesion force in the normal direction, while Friction is a force acting in the tangent direction. As with Friction, the Stickiness value used in a collision is the sum of the two colliding objects. So, for full sticking, the Friction and Stickiness on the colliding objects should be 1.0. Note that if Stickiness and Friction are both set to 2 on an object, this object will stick to other Nucleus objects that have Stickiness set to 0.

Collision Properties Maps

Collide Strength Map Type / Collide Strength Map: Collide Strength Map Type determines which collide strength map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Collide Strength Map attribute). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, use Collide Strength Map Type to select which one to use.

Collide Strength Map specifies the texture map used as a collide strength map. This attribute is only available when the Collide Strength Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file. See also Collide Strength.
Thickness Map Type / Thickness Map: Thickness Map Type determines which thickness map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Thickness Map attribute). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, use Thickness Map Type to select which one to use.

Thickness Map specifies the texture map used as a thickness map. This attribute is only available when the Thickness Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file. See also Thickness.
Bounce Map Type / Bounce Map: Bounce Map Type determines which type of bounce map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Bounce Map attribute). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, use Bounce Map Type to select which one to use.

Bounce Map specifies the texture map used as a bounce map. This attribute is only available when the Bounce Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file. See also Bounce.
Friction Map Type / Friction Map: Friction Map Type determines which friction map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Friction Map attribute). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, use Friction Map Type to select which one to use.

Friction Map specifies the texture map used as a friction map. This attribute is only available when the Friction Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file. See also Friction.
Stickiness Map Type/ Stickiness Map: Stickiness Map Type determines which stickiness map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Friction Map attribute). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, use Stickiness Map Type to select which one to use.

Stickiness Map specifies the texture map used as a stickiness map. This attribute is only available when the Stickiness Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file. See also Stickiness.

Dynamic Properties

Stretch Resistance: Specifies the amount the current nCloth object resists stretching when under tension. Stretch resistance is the force applied to the current nCloth’s links when they are more than their rest lengths. Stretch is applied to the geometry along the linear links between particles in an nCloth mesh. A low stretch resistance makes your nCloth stretchy, like spandex, while a high stretch resistance makes your nCloth tight, like burlap.
Compression Resistance: Specifies the amount the current nCloth object resists compression. Compression resistance is the force applied to the current nCloth’s links when they are less than their rest lengths. A low compression resistance makes your nCloth crumple under pressure, like crinoline, while a high compression resistance makes your nCloth resist crumpling. Having more compression than stretch keeps the structure of the current nCloth from becoming rigid, while at the same time keeping it from stretching. A Compression Resistance of 0.0 makes the current nCloth’s links behave like rubber bands, rather than springs.
Bend Resistance: Specifies the amount the nCloth object resists bending across edges when under strain. A high bend resistance makes your nCloth stiff, so that it won’t bend and hang off the edge of a surface, while a low bend resistance allows your nCloth to act like a tablecloth hanging over the edge of the table underneath.
Bend Angle Dropoff: Specifies how Bend Resistance changes with the angle of the current nCloth object’s bend. A high Bend Angle Dropoff causes an nCloth to resist bending at higher angles more than at lower angles (such as when an nCloth is nearly flat).
Shear Resistance: Specifies the amount the current nCloth object resists shear. Shear Resistance is similar to Stretch Resistance, but is applied to the geometry along the cross links between particles in an nCloth mesh. Shearing causes nCloth to stretch in an unequal fashion, causing distortion.

In most cases, the default value of 0 is acceptable. In general, with nCloth cross links, no Shear Resistance value is required. Stretch Resistance and Compression Resistance keep the cloth from shearing. In addition, shear resistance can be slow to calculate.
Restitution Angle: When no forces are acting upon the nCloth, specifies how far the current nCloth object can bend across an edge before it can no longer go back to its rest angle.

When you combine Restitution Angle with Bend Resistance, you can simulate deforming metals.
Restitution Tension: When no forces are acting upon the nCloth, specifies how far the links in the current nCloth object can stretch before they can no longer return to their rest lengths. Use Restitution Tension to simulate a substance like silly putty being stretched.
Rigidity: Specifies how much the current nCloth object wants to act as a rigid body. A value of 1 makes the nCloth act as a rigid body, while a value between 0-1 makes a hybrid between cloth and rigid body.
Deform Resistance: Specifies how much the current nCloth object wants to maintain its current shape. This value determines the degree to which deformations and collisions during simulation impact the nCloth surface. You can use this setting to make your nCloth strong and rigid like a soft-top on a convertible car, or you can set a low resistance so your nCloth deforms to create a dent in a pillow when a character’s head rests on it.
Use Polygon Shells: When on, Rigidity and Deform Resistance are applied to the individual polygon shells of your nCloth mesh. The shells then behave as individual rigid objects in a simulation.

For the shells to behave as rigid objects, your nCloth object must have a Rigidity or Deform Resistance value greater than 0. The specified Rigidity and Deform Resistance values are set globally on all the nCloth object's shells. You cannot specify individual attribute values for each polygon shell.

When Use Polygon Shells is on, there are no self-collisions within each shell. To maintain the rigidity of the individual shells, ensure that the nCloth object's Rigidity and/or Deform Resistance is set to a value enough value. Smaller shells need higher Rigidity or Deform Resistance.

Input meshes must be made from two or more polygon shells before being converted to nCloth. You can create polygon shells by combining polygon objects using Mesh > Combine. You can also create polygon shells from Paint Effects strokes by using Modify > Convert > Paint Effects to Polygons. See Create rigid nCloth shells.
Input Mesh Attract: Specifies how much the current nCloth is attracted to the shape of its input mesh. Higher values ensure that as the nCloth deforms and collides during simulation, it returns as closely as possible to its input mesh shape. Conversely, lower values mean that the nCloth does not return to it’s input mesh shape. This is useful for directorial control, especially with a deformer on the input mesh or when trying to match the input mesh and an existing animation.

Input Mesh Method

Specifies the method used to apply Input Mesh Attract to nCloth mesh vertices.

Non Locking: For this method, all vertices participate in the simulation. For example, Nucleus forces, Collide and Self Collide on all mesh vertices is calculated. The Non-Locking method is the default behavior of Input Mesh Attract.
Lock values of 1.0 or greater: For this method, vertices with painted Input Mesh Attract (using Paint Vertex Properties or Paint Texture Properties) values of 1 or greater use the vertex position of the input mesh. Nucleus forces and Self Collide are not calculated on these vertices during simulation. Essentially, these areas of the nCloth behave like passive collision objects.

Using Lock values of 1.0 or greater decreases simulation time and memory use particularly for dense meshes.

Input Attract Damp: Specifies the springiness of the effect of Input Mesh Attract. Higher values cause nCloth to be less springy because damping dissipates energy. Lower values cause nCloth to be more springy as damping has little effect.
Input Motion Drag: Specifies the strength of the motion force applied to the nCloth object that is being attracted to the motion of its animated input mesh. An Input Motion Drag value of 1 means that the force will cause nCloth object to follow the same path as its input mesh. An Input Motion Drag value of 0 has no effect on the nCloth object.

The effect of Input Motion Drag on the nCloth is relative to the difference between the nCloth and the velocity of the input mesh. If the input mesh stops moving, the force acting on the nCloth would slow the movement of the nCloth as well.

The nCloth Drag attribute and Nucleus Air Density have no direct affect on the behavior produced by the Input Motion Drag setting.
Rest Length Scale: Determines how the rest length is dynamically scaled from the length determined at the start frame. The default value is 1.
Bend Angle Scale: Determines how the bend angle is dynamically scaled from the bend angle determined at the start frame. A Bend Angle Scale value of 0, makes the rest shape flat. The default value is 1.
Mass: Specifies the base mass of the current nCloth object. Mass determines the density of an nCloth or the weight of an nCloth when its Maya Nucleus solver’s Gravity is greater than 0.0.

The Mass an nCloth should have is determined by its type of fabric or material. For example, an nCloth with a Mass of 0.0 would be fairly light (such as silk) and an nCloth with a Mass of 1.0 would be fairly heavy (such as felt). Mass is 1.0 by default.

Mass affects behavior in collisions and behavior with Drag. nCloth with high Mass has greater influence on nCloth with low Mass, and it’s less influenced by Drag.
Lift: Specifies the amount of lift applied to the current nCloth object. Lift is the component of aerodynamic force perpendicular to the relative wind. For example, you can use Lift (with Wind Speed and Drag) to create the rippling effect of a flag blowing in the wind. Lift is 0.05 by default.
Drag: Specifies the amount of drag applied to the current nCloth object. Drag is the component of aerodynamic force parallel to the relative wind which causes resistance. Drag is 0.05 by default.
Tangential Drag: Biases the effects of drag relative to the surface tangent of the current nCloth object. For example, a Tangential Drag of 0.0 causes a flat plane to slice through the air with no resistance and only have drag when moving along its normal axis, and a Tangential Drag of 1.0 causes the effects of drag to be equal in all directions. Tangential Drag is 0.0 by default.
Damp: Specifies the amount the motion of the current nCloth object is damped. Damping progressively diminishes the movement and oscillation of nCloth by dissipating energy.
Stretch Damp: Specifies the amount velocity due to stretch is damped for the current nCloth. Stretch Damp allows your nCloth to stretch without bouncing. Also, where Damp affects the bend and overall rotation of your nCloth, Stretch Damp only affects stretch.

Scaling Relation

Specifies the way dynamic attributes such as Bend and Stretch are defined relative to the scale and vertex density of the current nCloth object.

Link: Dynamic properties are applied to each link on the current nCloth object. The greater the nCloth’s resolution (vertex density), the greater the effect of its dynamic properties such as Stretch Resistance and Bend Resistance.
Object Space: The nCloth’s dynamic properties have the same affect on its mesh regardless of resolution (vertex density).
World Space: The nCloth’s dynamic properties have the same affect on its mesh regardless of resolution (vertex density). However, its stiffness is fixed in world space.

Ignore Solver Gravity: When on, solver Gravity is disabled for the current nCloth object.
Ignore Solver Wind: When on, solver Wind is disabled for the current nCloth object.
Local Force: Applies a force similar to Nucleus Gravity to the nCloth object in the amount and direction specified. The force is applied locally and does not affect other Nucleus objects assigned to the same solver.

The total force acting on the nCloth object is the sum of the set Nucleus Gravity and Local Force. For example, to double the force of gravity acting on the object, set the Local Force Y value to -9.8. Turn on Ignore Solver Gravity if you want only the Local Force to affect your nCloth object.
Local Wind: Applies a force similar to Nucleus wind to the nCloth object in the amount and direction specified. The wind is applied locally and does not affect other Nucleus objects assigned to the same solver.

The total wind acting on the nCloth object is the sum of the set Nucleus wind and Local Wind. Turn on Ignore Solver Wind if you want only the Local Wind to affect your nCloth object.

Dynamic Properties Map

Stretch Map Type / Stretch Map: Determines which attribute map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Dynamic Properties). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, for the specified Dynamic Properties attribute, use Map Type to select which one to use.

Map specifies the texture map used for the specified attribute map. This attribute is only available when the Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file.

See also Stretch Resistance
Bend Map Type / Bend Map: Determines which attribute map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Dynamic Properties). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, for the specified Dynamic Properties attribute, use Map Type to select which one to use.

Map specifies the texture map used for the specified attribute map. This attribute is only available when the Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file.

See also Bend Resistance.
Bend Dropoff Map Type/ Bend Dropoff Map: Determines which attribute map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Dynamic Properties). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, for the specified Dynamic Properties attribute, use Map Type to select which one to use.

Map specifies the texture map used for the specified attribute map. This attribute is only available when the Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file.

See also Bend Angle Dropoff
Restitution Map Type/ Restitution Map: Determines which attribute map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Dynamic Properties). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, for the specified Dynamic Properties attribute, use Map Type to select which one to use.

Map specifies the texture map used for the specified attribute map. This attribute is only available when the Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file.
Rigidity Map Type / Rigidity Map: Determines which attribute map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Dynamic Properties). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, for the specified Dynamic Properties attribute, use Map Type to select which one to use.

Map specifies the texture map used for the specified attribute map. This attribute is only available when the Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file.

See also Rigidity.
Deform Map Type / Deform Map: Determines which attribute map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Dynamic Properties). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, for the specified Dynamic Properties attribute, use Map Type to select which one to use.

Map specifies the texture map used for the specified attribute map. This attribute is only available when the Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file.

See also Deform Resistance.
Input Attract Map Type / Input Attract Map: Determines which attribute map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Dynamic Properties). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, for the specified Dynamic Properties attribute, use Map Type to select which one to use.

Map specifies the texture map used for the specified attribute map. This attribute is only available when the Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file.

See also Input Mesh Attract.
Rest Length Scale Map Type / Rest Length Scale Map: Determines which attribute map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Dynamic Properties). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, for the specified Dynamic Properties attribute, use Map Type to select which one to use.

Map specifies the texture map used for the specified attribute map. This attribute is only available when the Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file.

See also Rest Length Scale.
Damp Map Type/ Damp Map: Determines which attribute map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Dynamic Properties). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, for the specified Dynamic Properties attribute, use Map Type to select which one to use.

Map specifies the texture map used for the specified attribute map. This attribute is only available when the Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file.

See also Damp.
Mass Map Type / Mass Map: Determines which attribute map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Dynamic Properties). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, for the specified Dynamic Properties attribute, use Map Type to select which one to use.

Map specifies the texture map used for the specified attribute map. This attribute is only available when the Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file.

See also Mass.
Lift Map Type / Lift Map: Determines which attribute map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Dynamic Properties). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, for the specified Dynamic Properties attribute, use Map Type to select which one to use.

Map specifies the texture map used for the specified attribute map. This attribute is only available when the Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file.

See also Lift.
Drag Map Type / Drag Map: Determines which attribute map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Dynamic Properties). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, for the specified Dynamic Properties attribute, use Map Type to select which one to use.

Map specifies the texture map used for the specified attribute map. This attribute is only available when the Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file.

See also Drag.
Tangential Drag Map Type / Tangential Drag Map: Determines which attribute map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Dynamic Properties). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, for the specified Dynamic Properties attribute, use Map Type to select which one to use.

Map specifies the texture map used for the specified attribute map. This attribute is only available when the Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file.

Tangential Drag.
Wrinkle Map Type / Wrinkle Map: A Wrinkle Map modifies the internal rest shape of the nCloth input mesh by displacing it along its normals. The amount of displacement is determined by the Wrinkle Map value at each vertex, which is then multiplied by the Wrinkle Map Scale. When the nCloth is simulated, it tries to achieve the displaced shape instead of its normal rest shape. The rest shape is only used for determining the nCloth’s Stretch Resistance and Bend Resistance. The nCloth object’s Input Mesh Attract and Rigidity are not affected by the Wrinkle Map.

Wrinkle Map Type determines which wrinkle map, if any, to use for the nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Wrinkle Map attribute). If you have already painted a vertex map and a texture map, use Wrinkle Map Type to select which one to use. Be aware that, if you also painted a rest length scale map on the same area as your wrinkle map, the maps may interact.

Wrinkle Map specifies the texture map used as a wrinkle map. This attribute is only available when the Wrinkle Map Type is set to Texture. You need to create a file texture node to use a texture file.

Note
When applying a wrinkle map to an nCloth mesh, the wrinkle offset is to one side only, in the direction of the normals. To make positive and negative wrinkles, set the Alpha Offset value to -0.5 on the wrinkle map texture node.
Wrinkle Map Scale: Determines the displacement of a wrinkle map. A negative value pushes wrinkles in, instead of out. If your scene scale is large, this value should also be large. The default value is 1.

At large scene scales a high Wrinkle Map Scale value is required to account for world space displacement.

Force Field Generation

Generates a force field that can push (positive fields) nParticle objects and other nCloth objects away from the current nCloth, and pull (negative fields) nParticle objects and other nCloth objects toward the current nCloth. A Force Field can only be exerted on Nucleus objects that are assigned to the same Nucleus solver as the nCloth object that is generating the Force Field.

See Generate Force Fields with nCloth.

Force Field

Sets the orientation of the Force Field, meaning from which part of the nCloth object the force is generated.

Off: Force Field generation is turned off.
Along Normal: The Force Field is generated from the surface normals of the nCloth object.
Single Sided: The Force Field is generated from the positive normal side of the nCloth object.
Double Sided: The Force Field is generated on both sides of the normal (positive and negative sides) of the nCloth object.

Field Magnitude: Sets the strength of the Force Field. Positive Field Magnitude values push nParticle objects and other nCloth objects away from the current nCloth. Negative Field Magnitude values pull nParticle objects and other nCloth objects toward the current nCloth.
Field Distance: Sets the distance (in field units) from the surface of the force generating nCloth that the Force Field is active. Outside the Field Distance, the Force Field does not affect nParticle objects and other nCloth objects.

Field Scale

Sets a Field Scale ramp that can be used to vary Field Magnitude along the Field Distance. By clicking on the graph and dragging the position markers, you make a curve that defines Field Magnitude for any input value. Selected Position and Selected Value are used to edit the individual curve points.

Selected Position: This value indicates the position of Field Magnitude on the ramp. The left position on ramp represents Field Magnitude along the surface on the nCloth object. The right position on the ramp represents the Field Magnitude at the edge of the Field Distance.
Selected Value: This value indicates the Field Magnitude of the Force Field at the selected position.

Interpolation

Controls the way Field Magnitude blends between positions on the ramp. The default setting is Linear.

None: The Field Scale curve is flat between points.
Linear: The Field Magnitude values are interpolated with a linear curve.
Smooth: The Field Magnitude values are interpolated along a bell curve, so that each value on the ramp dominates the region around it, then blends quickly to the next Field Magnitude value.
Spline: The values are interpolated with a spline curve, taking neighboring indices into account for greater smoothness.

Force Field Maps

Field Magnitude Map Type/ Field Magnitude Map: Field Magnitude Map Type determines the type of Field Magnitude map for this nCloth object. Select None (no map), Per-vertex (map is applied per-vertex), or Texture (uses the texture map specified by the Mass Map attribute).

Field Magnitude Map specifies the texture map used as a Field Magnitude map. This attribute is only available when the Field Magnitude Map Type is set to Texture. Type in a path to a texture file, or click the map button to use a Maya Texture node. See also Field Magnitude.

Wind Field Generation

Air Push Distance

Specifies the distance over which the wind created by the motion of the current nCloth object affects other nCloth objects in the same Nucleus system. The motion of the current nCloth object determines the direction of the wind.

When Air Push Distance is 0, no wind is generated by the motion of the current nCloth. When Air Push Distance is greater than 0, the wind created by the motion of the current nCloth object affects other nCloth objects in the same Nucleus system. The higher the Air Push Distance, the greater the distance over which the wind created by the motion of the current nCloth affects other nCloth objects in the same Nucleus system.

Note

We recommend that you do not use Wind Shadow Distance and Air Push Distance together.
Air Push Distance is more processor-intensive than Wind Shadow Distance.
The effect of Air Push Distance is relative to the wind velocity, so a stationary object will slow down the wind within the push distance.

Air Push Vorticity

Specifies the amount of circulation or rotation in the flow of air being pushed by the current nCloth object, as well as the amount of curl in the flow of wind created by the motion of the current nCloth object. Air Push Vorticity changes the direction of the wind created by the motion of the current nCloth object.

Air Push Vorticity only affect’s your nCloth when Air Push Distance is greater than 0.

Wind Shadow Distance

Specifies the distance over which the current nCloth object blocks the dynamic wind of its Nucleus system from other nCloth, nParticle, and passive objects in its system.

When Wind Shadow Distance is 0, no wind is blocked by the current nCloth object. When Wind Shadow Distance is greater than 0, the dynamic wind of its Nucleus system is blocked by the current nCloth object. The higher the Wind Shadow Distance, the greater the distance for which the current nCloth object blocks the dynamic wind of its Nucleus system.

Wind Shadow Diffusion

Specifies the amount the dynamic wind curls around the current nCloth object as it blocks the dynamic wind of its Nucleus system.

Wind Self Shadow

When on, the current nCloth object blocks the dynamic wind of its Nucleus system from affecting itself.

Pressure

Pressure Method

Specifies how the Pressure value for the current nCloth object is defined.

The manual setting defines pressure as a simple user input value that can be keyframed. The volume tracking model computes the pressure based on the current volume of the cloth combined with inflow and outflow of air.

Manual Pressure Setting: Pressure is defined as a user-defined value that can be keyframed.
Volume Tracking Model: Pressure is defined as a solver-computed dynamic value that is based on the current volume of the nCloth combined with the inflow and outflow of air. Note that higher Air Density values (and thus iterations) make the internal air more incompressible when using the Volume Tracking Model.

Pressure: Specifies a force applied along the surface normal direction of the current nCloth object when the Pressure Method is set to Manual.

Pressure is only available when Manual Pressure Setting is the current Pressure Method.
Pressure Damping: Specifies the amount the air pressure is damped for the current nCloth object.
Start Pressure: Specifies the relative air pressure inside the current nCloth object at the start frame of its simulation.

Start Pressure is only available when Volume Tracking Model is the current Pressure Method.
Pump Rate: Specifies the rate at which air pressure is added to the current nCloth object.

Pump Rate is only available when Volume Tracking Model is the current Pressure Method.
Air Tightness: Specifies the rate at which air can escape from the current nCloth object, or how permeable its surface is.

Air Tightness is only available when Volume Tracking Model is the current Pressure Method.
Incompressibility: Specifies the incompressibility of the current nCloth object’s internal air volume. This also affects the amount of force applied when air is pumped into the nCloth. Note that a higher Incompressibility value may require more solver calculation time.

Incompressibility is only available when Volume Tracking Model is the current Pressure Method.
Seal Holes: When on, the physical holes in the current nCloth object are treated as being capped or sealed. If holes are not sealed, air can escape from them.

Quality Settings

Max Iterations: Specifies the maximum number of iterations per simulation step for the current nCloth object’s dynamic properties (for example, Stretch Resistance and Bend Resistance). Max Iterations clamps the number of iterations to prevent high level property values or a large number of substeps from locking up the nCloth.

An iteration is a single computation of a single nCloth property by the Maya Nucleus solver. There are many iterations for each dynamic property value per step. The number of iterations for each dynamic property is automatically set by their current values. Higher dynamic property values generate larger numbers of iterations.
Max Self Collide Iterations: Specifies the maximum number of self-collision iterations per simulation step for the current nCloth object. Iterations are the number of calculations that occur within a simulation step. Accuracy increases with increased iterations, however, calculation time also increases. Max Self Collide Iterations is 4.0 by default.
Collide Last Threshold: Sets whether or not collision iterations are the last calculation performed each simulated step. Collision Last Threshold is useful when Rigidity, Deform Resistance, and Input Attract have positive values, as it ensures that nCloth collisions with Nucleus objects are resolved at the end of the step, decreasing the chance of bad collisions in the subsequent frames. When on, Collide Last Threshold applies only when the nCloth object has set Rigidity, Deform Resistance, or Input Attract.

By default, Collide Last Threshold is 0.2 which works well in most simulations. Use higher values, such as 1.0, if partial collision failures appear in your simulation, particularly when using Input Attract. For example, in some cases, nCloth vertices can pass through collision objects to follow the nCloth input attract object. Collide Last Threshold values of 1.0 or greater can resolve this problem. It can also resolve similar issues when using Rigidity with fast moving nCloth.

Collide Last Threshold values of less than 0.2 are not useful for most simulations.
Add Cross Links: Adds cross links to the current nCloth object. For faces with more than 3 vertices (triangles), this creates links such that each vertex is connected to each other vertex. Quads are better balanced with cross links, than if they are triangulated.

Cross links maintain the angles between links, stabilizing the nCloth and preventing cloth behavior like shearing. You cannot add cross links to meshes that were triangulated before being made nCloth, as their extra edges already provide additional stability to the nCloth.

Evaluation Order

Specifies whether the current nCloth object’s links are evaluated in a cumulative or an order-independent manner.

Sequential: Links are evaluated cumulatively, from the first link to the last link on the nCloth. The sequence of links (from first to last) is determined by the nCloth’s input mesh edge order. Sequential tends to evaluate links more quickly than Parallel and it requires less calculations to make nCloth non-stretchy or rigid.
Parallel: Links are evaluated order-independently, from the parts of the nCloth that are constrained or colliding to all other areas of the nCloth. A high Stretch Resistance value is required for this type of evaluation, and it can be slow to calculate. Use Parallel only if bias is an issue in your scene. For example, if the sleeve of an nCloth shirt is colliding with another nCloth object, then the links in the sleeve are evaluated first, followed by the links closest to the sleeve, and then the rest of the shirt’s links and so forth.

Bend Solver

Sets the solver method used for computing Bend Resistance.

Simple: Solves Bend Resistance each step based on the relative position of the nCloth vertices. No history of vertex cross-over or geometry flipping is used to solve Bend Resistance.

Use either High Quality or Flip Tracking for nCloth simulations where vertices may cross-over or the geometry flips. Otherwise, Maya may bend the nCloth surface in the wrong direction, causing jittering motion and poor self-collisions.
High Quality: Solves Bend Resistance each step based on the relative position of the nCloth vertices. When solving Bend Resistance, High Quality keeps a history of instances when vertices cross-over and geometry has flipped around itself. This history is maintained for the duration of a simulation step. At the end of each simulation step, Maya assumes that all vertex cross-over and geometry flipping are resolved and the history is cleared. With no instances of nCloth surfaces bent around itself, meaning no flipping, collisions are properly resolved.

High Quality resolves poor collisions due to instances of vertex cross-over and geometry flipping without producing kinks in the output mesh. By default Bend Solver is set to High Quality.
Flip Tracking: Solves Bend Resistance each step based on the relative position of the nCloth vertices. When solving Bend Resistance, Flip Tracking keeps a running history of instances when vertices cross-over and geometry has flipped around itself. This history is maintained for the duration of the simulation. Using Flip Tracking lets you solve nCloth surfaces that may bend around themselves several times like a spring and then unwind during the simulation.

Be aware that if the surface winds a number of times during the simulation, kinks may appear in the resulting surface, particularly in areas where winding has caused poor collisions. If your nCloth is winding excessively during a simulation or kinks appear in the output mesh, use the High Quality option. Flip Tracking is the default Bend Solver method used in previous versions of Maya.

Note
If you set Bend Solver to Flip Tracking and want to append an nCache or play back off the end of an nCache, you must set Cacheable Attributes to Dynamic State when you cache the simulation. See Cacheable Attributes.

Sort Stretch Links

When on, the current nCloth object’s links are sorted. With a Sequential Evaluation Order, Sort Stretch Links bases the link order on distance to colliding and constrained points on the nCloth. This can help reduce stretching without increasing the Stretch Resistance value, although the effect can be subtle.

Trapped Check

When on, Trapped Check pushes out along the surface normal of the current object to resolve crossovers between colliding objects, and attempts to push the points that cross over, back. The push out force is exerted on the outside of the current object's surface (positive normal side). Trapped Check assumes that the collisions are occurring on the same side of the object's respective surfaces (For example, outside surface to outside surface collision).

Self Trapped Check

When on, tracks self collision crossovers and attempts to push the points that cross over, back. This setting assumes that the surface of the object is in a good state at the start, and attempts to preserve that state.

The Self Trapped Check is useful in cases where nCloth is self-colliding and causing interpenetration. Instead of the geometry being stuck on the wrong side, the Self Trapped Check allows the cloth to push back to the correct side.

Push Out

A force that pushes out objects that are intersecting or interpenetrating, to the nearest point on the current nCloth object’s surface. A value of 1 pushes objects out in one step, while lower values push out in more steps but provide smoother results. A positive Push Out value results in objects pushing in the direction of the surface normal. A negative Push Out value results in objects pushing in the opposite direction of the surface normal.

Push Out relies on the Push Out Radius to determine which objects and points are affected (objects and points farther than the Push Out Radius are ignored).

Push Out is useful for objects colliding at the start frame. In addition, you can animate this attribute to resolve a bad state at certain frames.

Push Out Radius

Specifies the maximum distance from the surface of the current nCloth object that the Push Out attribute affects. Objects that are farther away than the distance specified by the Push Out Radius are not affected.

Important

The Push Out Radius determines how far from the surface Maya checks for push out. The push out is always applied to the surface thickness. Push Out Radius is not a type of surface thickness.

Crossover Push

A force applied to objects along the contour where they crossover with the current nCloth object. Crossover Push works only at the point of crossover so it may take several steps for the surface to reach a good state. Use Crossover Push to resolve interpenetration at the start frame, or to correct sharp edges.

Note

Disable collisions, or turn on Trapped Check if you are using Crossover Push to resolve interpenetration.
Crossover Push may shift or rotate meshes in some cases.

Self Crossover Push

A force applied along the contour where the current nCloth object crosses itself. Self Crossover Push works only at the point of crossover so it may take several steps for the surface to reach a good state. Use Self Crossover Push to resolve interpenetration at the start frame.

Note

Disable self collisions, or turn on Self Trapped Check when using Self Crossover Push.

Caching

Specifies the simulation data that will be saved to a server or local hard drive when the current nCloth object is nCached.

Cacheable Attributes

Position: Caches the X, Y, and Z positions of an nCloth object’s vertices.
Position and Velocity: Caches the X, Y, and Z positions of an nCloth object’s vertices, as well as the object’s velocity.
Dynamic State: Caches the X, Y, and Z positions of an nCloth object's vertices, the object's velocity, as well as internal state information.

Use Dynamic State if you want to resume your nCloth simulation off the end of the cache, or if you want to append the nCloth cache. For these cases, Dynamic State works better than using Position and Velocity, which may produce subtle differences between the original simulation and the cached simulation.

To get the most accuracy in resumed nCloth simulations when caching with Dynamic State, your nCloth objects should be created as World Space Output. See nMesh > Create nCloth.