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Lesson 2: Creating nCloth constraints

Changing which nCloth points are constrained

 

Learning Resources > Tutorials > Getting Started with Maya > nCloth > Lesson 2: Creating nCloth constraints > 

Constraining an nCloth to a passive object

You can constrain nCloth by creating dynamic links between its vertices and the components of other nCloths or passive collision objects. The stretchiness and compressibility of these collision links depends of the type of constraint they belong to.

To constrain an nCloth

1. Play back the flag’s simulation.

   

   The flag falls downward through the air. For the flag to retain its position beside the flag pole in XYZ space, it needs to be constrained to the static flag pole passive object.

   NoteYou may need to increase the total number of frames in the timeline.
2. Go to the beginning of the playback range.
3. Select the flag.
4. -click the flag and select Vertex from the context-sensitive menu that appears.

   The flag switches to vertex display mode.

5. Dolly in the camera so that you can view the vertices along the left side border of the flag closely.
6. Select the left border’s vertices.

   

7. -select the flag pole passive object to include it in your selection.

   

8. Select nConstraint > Point to Surface.

   

   A Point to Surface constraint is created, and constraint links appear between the vertices you selected on the nCloth flag, and the surface of the flag pole passive object.

   

9. Play back the flag’s simulation.

   The flag gently falls and ripples, but does not continue to fall out of view. This is because the point to Surface nCloth constraint attaching the flag vertices to the flag pole now restricts the position of the whole flag in XYZ space.

   

10. Go to the beginning of the playback range.