By default, a subdivision
surface displays up to three levels of detail (0, 1, and possibly
2). The 0 level is the least refined. You can increase the level
of detail for a selected region to at most 13 levels. Though increasing
the number of levels allows more precision, it also slows Maya processing.
You’ll accomplish most of your modeling needs at levels 0, 1, and
2.
If you display level
2 vertices on the hand, you’ll notice that there are no level 2
vertices near the fingertips. To create the indentation of a finger
nail, you need more vertices than levels 0 and 1 provide. In the
next steps, you’ll add level 2 vertices at a fingertip so you can
create a fingernail.
To
create more precision in the fingernail region
- Switch to level 1.
- Right-click
the surface and select Edge from
the marking menu.
- Shift-click to select the edges that
surround the region where you’ll shape a nail.
- To increase the amount of detail at the
selected edges, select
Subdiv Surfaces > Refine Selected Components.
Additional surface curves appear in the fingernail area, indicating
you can edit with more precision.
- In
the scene view, right-click LeftHand and select Vertex from
the marking menu. This displays additional level 2 vertices in the
fingertip region.
- Select
Modify
> Transformation Tools > Move Tool > . In
the Tool Settings window, turn
on Normal, then close the window.
You can thereafter use the Move Tool manipulator
to move vertices in a direction normal (perpendicular) to the surface.
- Select
the vertices in the nail region.
NoteBe careful to select
only those vertices in the nail region. You may need to tumble the
camera to ensure that all extra vertices are de-selected.
- Drag the Move Tool’s
N manipulator down slightly to form the depression of a fingernail
bed.