Create and modify survey constraints
 
 
 

This section describes the steps needed to create or modify survey constraints.

General guidelines

To create survey constraints

  1. Open the Solve Survey control panel.
  2. Select track points as you would any Maya object. (Do not select the associated 3D locators—only track points.)

    Typically, you select in the shotCamera panel or through the Outliner (listed under clip1TrackedPointVisibilityGroup > clip1TrackedPointGroup).

  3. Choose the constraint you want from the LiveConstraints pull-down menu or hot box menu (press spacebar).
    NoteYou can also choose a constraint from the Constraint Type pull-down in the Solve Survey control panel. If you do, you must also click Create.

    The constraint appears as an object in the view panels:

  4. Set the constraint’s length or location in the 3D coordinate system.
    Constraint Settings
    Point Use the perspective view or Channel box to orient and translate the constraint object. You may want to use the Maya snap tools to lock it onto a model.
    Distance Enter the value in the Survey control panel.
    Plane Use the perspective view or Channel box to orient and translate the constraint object. Refer to Placement of Plane and Point constraints for more information.
    Depth Enter the value in the Survey control panel.
  5. Optional: Modify the Variance setting if you want to allow some leeway for the solver to vary from the constraint settings.

Follow these steps to incorporate your constraints into an existing solution. Otherwise, you can start the solver again to create a new solution.

To apply survey constraints to a solution

  1. Open the Solve control panel.
  2. Select the current solution you think is best.
  3. Click the Register or Refine button.

    Register applies the constraint to the whole solution. Refine incorporates the constraint into the shape of the solution.

Placement of Plane and Point constraints

Plane constraints extend infinitely beyond the plane that represents them. Therefore, you can move the nurbs plane object anywhere along the plane you want to constrain.

Make sure you place constraints relative to each other as they were in real world space. For example, Plane constraints for a floor and a wall should be perpendicular. Also keep in mind that the distance you use between parallel Plane constraints implies a distance constraint.

If you use Point constraints in combination with reference geometry, use the Maya snap tools to help you place the geometry into the scene.

Modify survey constraints

You can modify the values of constraints at any time. However, once the constraint is created, you cannot add or remove affiliated points. You must create a new constraint that has the desired points and delete the old constraint.

NoteIf you delete a track point used in a survey constraint, Live forces the constraint to be inactive. You may need to recreate the constraint in this case.