Flows

Description

Flows are special case repeating decals laid out along a geometry strip conformed to the target mesh. They are useful for displaying surface detail transitions between two materials like the indent line between two panels or stitching between two fabrics but can also be used for a simpler repeating pattern across a surface like the illusion of inset piping running along a wall and other more complex shapes through normal mapping or the more advanced parallax occlusion mapping.

Placement

Flows can be placed into the scene in a couple of different ways:

• Select any number of edges on the target surface where you want the flow line to be placed.
• Create a cutter geometry that intersects the target mesh when you want the flow line to be placed. Select the target mesh and then select the cutter geometry.

Once you've chosen your placement method, then bring up the Radial Menu and select the desired flow from your available flow libraries.
The Radial Menu default hotkey is SHIFT + SPACE.

Like decals, flows will be automatically parented to their target mesh and if the target mesh has a Maya StandardSurface or aiStandardSurface material applied to the nearest faces then the flow will automatically match its materials.

Adjustment

After placing a flow the DecalMaster Adjust Tool will be enabled in flow mode.
You can also access the DecalMaster Adjust Tool from the Radial Menu by clicking the Adjust button or pressing its hotkey A while the Radial Menu is open.
To select a flow for adjustment, with the DecalMaster Adjust Tool active, enter object selection mode and select any flow mesh to begin adjusting.
The DecalMaster Adjust Tool behaves differently depending on your selection, in flow mode you are given the manipulators to:

• Cycle

  Hold SHIFT then mouse scroll wheel or press 1 or 2.

  Cycle through the available flows in the library the original flow was located.

• Scale Width

  Hold SHIFT + MMB then drag.

  Scale the width of the flow line.

• Extrude

  Hold CTRL + MMB then drag.

  Extrude the flow along the target mesh surface normals.

• Scale UV

  Hold CTRL + SHIFT + MMB then drag.

  Scale the flow texture coordinates along the U axis.

You can exit the DecalMaster Adjust Tool at any time by pressing Q or Esc.