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Remove unused influences from a smooth skinned surface

Edit smooth skinning

Import weights

 

User Guide > Rigging > Character Setup > Skinning > Edit smooth skinning > 

Export weights

Skin weight maps are exported based on the current UVs of the selected object. Skin weight mapping is relative to the UV parameterization of the skinned geometry.

If you want to export skin weights, it is best to assign UVs to your skinned geometry. If your skinned geometry does not have UVs, the results of the export may (depending on the complexity of the skinned geometry) be undesirable. If your skinned geometry has assigned UVs, and there is overlap in the UVs, then the results of the export may be undesirable in the areas of overlap.

For information on creating UVs for polygonal or subdivision surfaces, see Mapping UVs.

To export weight maps

1. Select the skin object or objects. If objects are parented or grouped, select each object individually.
2. Select Skin > Edit Smooth Skin > Export Skin Weight Maps > .
3. Set the following options and click Export. In most applications, only the Map Size X and Y options are useful. The other options are useful if you plan to use specialized map editing techniques. Most users use the default option settings.
4. In the Write file browser that appears, specify a path and name for a folder (or directory) that will be created to hold the map files. By default, Maya puts the folder name you specify under the sourceimages folder of your current project. Click the Write button in the file browser after you enter the name for the folder.
5. Maya lists how many maps will be written to disk, and prompts whether you want to proceed.
6. Click Yes.

   Maya puts the image files, one per joint, in the folder you specified. For example:

   • jackie_back_root.iff
   • jackie_jaw.iff
   • jackie_left_ankle.iff