Modifying Enveloped Objects

Adding Points

When you add a point to an enveloped object, normally it becomes automatically weighted based on the surrounding points. It is better to add new points before removing old ones — this means that there is more weight information for the new points.

In some circumstances, the new points aren't automatically weighted. In these cases, you can assign deformers manually as described in Changing Deformer Assignments Manually.

Deforming and Moving Points on Envelopes

If you want to apply a deformation or move points on an enveloped object, make sure to first set the construction mode based on what you want to accomplish. For example:

• If you want to modify the base shape of the envelope, set the construction mode to Modeling.

• If you want to author shape keys on top of the envelope, for example, to create muscle bulges, set the construction mode to Secondary Shape Modeling.

For more information about construction modes in general, see Construction Modes and Regions [Data Exchange].

For more information about construction modes and shapes, see Creating Shapes in the Shape Modeling Construction Modes [Shape Animation].

Transforming Envelopes

Envelopes behave differently from other objects when you transform them:

• If you try to scale, rotate, or translate an envelope, it appears to be unaffected. This is because all of its points are assigned to the stationary deformers.

  If Centers are visible in a 3D view, you can see that the envelope is "really" being transformed.

• If you transform an envelope in Center mode, it appears to react in the opposite way. This is because transforming a center actually applies a compensation to the object's points.

In general, it is not recommended to transform an envelope because you may get strange results if you later reset the reference pose. Instead, you can put the envelope and deformers in the same hierarchy or model and then transform the whole tree.