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Open the Muscle Creator window

Creating Muscles

Delete a muscle

 

User Guide > Rigging > Maya Muscle > Creating Muscles > 

Create a muscle

The Muscle Creator window lets you build new NURBS muscles. You typically need two objects to attach the muscle to, one for the start and one for the end. Locator curves for each end are created so that you can set the width of each side.

To create a new muscle

1. Select Muscle > Muscles/Bones > Muscle Creator from the main menu bar to open the Muscle Creator window.
2. In the Muscle Creator window, do the following:
   • In the Muscle Name field, enter a base name for the muscle (for example “MusBiceps”).
   • Specify the number of controls and cross sections you want the muscle to have, and the number of segments around.
     NoteThese numbers cannot be changed once the muscle is created.
   • Select the start object and click the “<<<“ button next to the Attach Start field, then select the end object and click “<<<“ next to the Attach End field to load them into the window.
   • If you want to create a Muscle Object shape node, make sure the Create cMuscle shape node option is on.

   Typically, you want a Muscle Object shape node so that you can connect the muscle to the Muscle deformer. If you decide to, you can turn off this option, then convert the muscle to have a Muscle Object shape later.

3. Click Create Muscle.

   A muscle is created. Depending on the orientation of your attach points, the muscle may be twisted or need its end points adjusted.

   Two curves that look like locators appear at each end. These start and end points can be adjusted in the viewport to set the location of the muscle. (See Muscle components for information the muscle that appears in the viewport.)

   Once the muscle is created, you can switch to the Edit tab for basic modeling and editing of the muscle.