Be Your Own Souvenir! from blablabLAB on Vimeo.

This is a really simple script to be used instead of the Maya’s polygon combine. It saves me a couple of cleanup steps while I’m modeling.

Normally when you combine polygons maya will pull the new poly out of any existing group and create transform nodes for every polygon that existed. If you delete history on your new poly these will go away. And possibly any group that contained your polys could have vanished as well.
Well this script fixes all of that. Just beware history will be deleted in the process too. I’m sure there are some cases where you want to keep history. Here is my Better Combine V2.3 Mel Script.

Update: V2.3 I fixed an error, added merge verts with a tolerance of .001 and centered the pivot. you can check the code below and download the file just above. If you like you can change the tolerance in the mel file within the area noted and you can also turn off the merge verts option. Enjoy! =D


// ---- EVEN More Better Combine V2.3 ----- //
// Combines Polygons deletes history and keeps it within it's Group if it is in one.
// Also Keeps the name of the first Poly selected.
// Now it merges verts and Centers the pivot as requested. =D
// the initial Tolerance of the merge vert can be changed below or you can change it in the history after.

}
int $selNumTokens = `tokenize $sel[0] "|" $selBuffer`;
$i = $selNumTokens -1;
$newPoly[0] = `rename $newPoly $selBuffer[$i]`;
if ($onOff == "on")
{
polyMergeVertex -d $k -am 1 -ch 0 $newPoly;
}
xform -cp $newPoly;
select -r $newPoly;
}

Key Features
The file exported is in a .txt file in the same location of the file you are working on
The layers in the txt file are in the same order as they are in the Maya scene

You can download the Mel here And you can view the script just below. Enjoy!

/* Display Layers to txt file V 0.75
Sorts and prints Layers to external .txt file within the
directory of the current Maya file */
/*————————————————————————————–
File name extractor
————————————————————————————–*/
global proc string filepart( string $path ) // Setting up Directories
/* Extracts the name of the current open Maya file.
Input: e.g. “D:/projects/default/scenes/myScene.mb”
Result: e.g. “myScene.mb”
Filepath can be delimited with
either slash (“/” or “\”) */
{
string $filepart = match( “[^/\\]*$”, $path );
return $filepart;
}
/*————————————————————————————–
File Path extractor
————————————————————————————–*/
global proc string pathpart( string $path )
/* Extracts the path out of the absolute filepath of the
current open Maya file.
Input: e.g. “D:/projects/default/scenes/myScene.mb”
Result: e.g. “D:/projects/default/scenes”
Note: Requires that the filepath be delimited with
_forward_ slashes (“/”) */

{
string $dir = match( “^.*/”, $path );
int $sz = size( $dir );
/* Strip off trailing ‘/’ */
if ( ( $sz > 1 ) && ( substring( $dir, $sz, $sz ) == “/” ) )
{
$dir = substring( $dir, 1, ($sz – 1) );
}
return $dir;
}
/*————————————————————————————–
Layer name File Output
————————————————————————————–*/

/*—————————————————————————————
Prompt for DisplayLayers or Render Layers
—————————————————————————————*/
global proc string userPrompt()
{
string $returnVal = `confirmDialog
-title “Export Display/Render Layers as a text file”
-message “Would you like to Export the Display Layers or Render Layers as a Text File?”
-button “Display Layers”
-button “Render Layers”
-button “I’m not sure”
-defaultButton “Display Layers”
-cancelButton “I’m not sure”
-dismissString “I’m not sure”`;
return $returnVal;
}

/*—————————————————————————————
Prompt for DisplayLayers or Render Layers
—————————————————————————————*/

string $fullpath = `file -q -loc`;
string $file = filepart( $fullpath );
string $directory = pathpart( $fullpath );
string $projPath = `file -q -loc`;
string $userInput = `userPrompt`;
string $selectionSyntax;
string $input;

if ($userInput == “Render Layers”)
{
$selectionSyntax = “renderLayer”;
$input = “Render_Layer”;
}
else if ($userInput == “Display Layers”)
{
$selectionSyntax = “layer”;
$input = “Display_Layer”;

select -r ($selectionSyntax + “Manager”);

string $layerManager[] = `ls -sl`;
string $layer[] = `listConnections $layerManager`;
// select -r $layer;

string $path = ($projPath + “_” +$input + “_List.txt”);
int $fileId = fopen($path, “w”);
int $layerCheck = size ($layer)-1;
int $intDispOrder[] = {0};
int $intDispOrderSize;
int $i=1;

// fprint($fileId, “\r\n -=Beginning of Layers=- \r\n”);

/*————————————————————————————–
Testing Code Area
————————————————————————————–*/

// print $intDispOrder;
// print $intDispOrder[6];print $intDispOrder[7];print $intDispOrder[8];
// print $intDispOrder;

$i=1;

while($i<=$layerCheck)
{
select $layer[$i];
$intDispOrder[$i] = `getAttr ($layer[$i] +".displayOrder")`;
$i++;
}
$i=1;

print $intDispOrder;
// int $intDispOrderSize;

int $intDispOrder[] = `sort $intDispOrder`;
int $intDispOrderSize = size ($intDispOrder) -1;

fprint($fileId, "\r\n \r\n -=Beginning of " +$input+ " Layers=- \r\n");

// potentially dangerous loop will keep increasing file size forever.
$j=$intDispOrderSize;
while($j >= 1)
{
$k=1;
while ($k <= $layerCheck)
{
int $currentDispOrder = `getAttr ($layer[$k] + “.displayOrder”)`;
if ($intDispOrder[$j] == $currentDispOrder)
{
fprint($fileId, “\r\n” + $layer[$k]) /* + “.displayOrder ” + $currentDispOrder)*/;
$k++;
}
else
{
$k++;
}
}
$j–;
}

fprint($fileId, “\r\n \r\n -=End of Layers=-”);
fclose $fileId;
print (“A “+$input+” list “+ $file +$input+”_List.txt was output to ” + $directory);

}
else
{
warning “user is confused and should take a break”;
}
/*————————————————————————————–
Idea for making this work
————————————————————————————–

get the list of layers
get the display order number on all the layers
find the highest number on the display order and run a loop that many times
loop and check from 1 to highest number
print it if it’s next in line.
*/

Some people around the office thought this was such an entertaining mug that I ordered nearly 12 of them. Your not limited there as you can get t-shirts, hats, ties and anything else with my “mug” on it. The latest request was for a Stein! So don’t delay and get your mug today!

If you know anything about tire dimensions you have for example a “255 65 R18″. So what does all that mean? Well the first number is the tire width in millimeters. If you haven’t changed Maya default units that would be 25.5 units or centimeters. the second number is the side wall height which is 65% of the width. That comes out to 165.75 mm for the side wall height. Then R18 is the diameter of the rim in inches the tire will fit on. Sometimes there is a speed rating after the diameter, it’s not all that important for modeling a tire.

The tire needed to be an accurate size to be able to fit on the rim nicely so I was building a cylinder with the right tire dimensions so I could get the correct circumference when wrapping the tread around. Time and time again I would pull out a calculator and type in the sizes I would need then build the cylinder. I started noticing these very repetitive tasks like create cylinder, change radius, change height, rotate 90, etc etc… So I started copying things from the script editor and running them so I could just get a cylinder set up then I could change the values. That was step 1 and it saved a little time.

I just wanted to be able to hit a button and put in these dimension and boom there’s my reference. So I present you the Wheel Measuring Device! Mel script. Keep in mind this is the first script I have written so be gentle on my fragile ego when commenting. I have also learned quite a bit since I made this but I’m sure there could be something to take away from this script. Enjoy!

You can either copy and paste this into the script editor or drop it into your script folder and “source” it. I recommend the later. You can also download the mel script here

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

// Creating Wheel Measuring Device v0.90//
string $dummywmd[] = `polyCylinder -n WheelMeasuringDevice1 -ch on -o on -r 9inch -h 235mm -sa 90 -sh 2 -sc 1 -cuv 3` ;
string $wmd[] = `polyCylinder -n WheelMeasuringDevice1 -ch on -o on -r 9inch -h 235mm -sa 90 -sh 2 -sc 1 -cuv 3` ;
delete $dummywmd;

// Extruding Side Wall //
hilite $wmd ;
setAttr ($wmd[0] + “.rotateZ”) 90;
select -r ($wmd[0] + “.f[0:179]“) ;
string $sw[] = `polyExtrudeFacet -constructionHistory 1 -keepFacesTogether 1 -divisions 1 -twist 0 -taper 1 -off 0 -smoothingAngle 30`;
setAttr ($sw[0] + “.localTranslateZ”) 15;
GrowPolygonSelectionRegion;
ConvertSelectionToFaces;
string $outerFaces[] = `ls -sl`;
InvertSelection;
string $innerFaces[] = `ls -sl`;
string $rim[] = `polyExtrudeFacet -constructionHistory 1 -keepFacesTogether 1 -twist 0 -taper 1 -off 0 -smoothingAngle 30`;
setAttr ($rim[0] + “.localTranslateZ”) -2.5;

// Selecting Pieces //
select $outerFaces;
select -add $innerFaces;
InvertSelection;
string $innerEdgeFaces[] = `ls -sl`;
GrowPolygonSelectionRegion;
InvertSelection;
select -add $innerFaces;
select -add $innerEdgeFaces;
InvertSelection;
string $sideWallFaces[] = `ls -sl`;

// Buldging Sidewall
string $polySub[] = `polySubdivideFacet -duv 1 -dvv 2 -sbm 1 -ch 1`;
ConvertSelectionToEdges;
ShrinkPolygonSelectionRegion;
string $sideWallEdgeLoop[] = `ls -sl`;
string $SWBuldge[] = `polyMoveEdge -constructionHistory 1 -random 0 -localCenter 0`;
setAttr ($SWBuldge[0] + “.localTranslate”) -type double3 0 0 2;
string $SWBBevel[] = `polyBevel -offset 0.5 -offsetAsFraction 1 -autoFit 1 -segments 2 -worldSpace 0 -uvAssignment 0 -fillNgons 1 -mergeVertices 1 -mergeVertexTolerance 0.0001 -smoothingAngle 30 -miteringAngle 180 -angleTolerance 180 -ch 1`;

// setting up Procedures //
global proc remScale (string $object)
{
setAttr -k off ($object + “.scaleX”);
setAttr -k off ($object + “.scaleY”);
setAttr -k off ($object + “.scaleZ”);
}

global proc leaveRHeight (string $CylInput)
{
setAttr -cb off ($CylInput + “.roundCap”);
setAttr -cb off ($CylInput + “.createUVs”);
setAttr -k off ($CylInput + “.subdivisionsAxis”);
setAttr -k off ($CylInput + “.subdivisionsHeight”);
setAttr -k off ($CylInput + “.subdivisionsCaps”);
}

global proc leaveDivV (string $leaveDivV)
{
setAttr -k off ($leaveDivV + “.divisions”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveDivV + “.divisionsU”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveDivV + “.mode”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveDivV + “.subdMethod”);
}

global proc leaveLTZExt (string $leaveLTZ)
{
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.offset”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.taper”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.taperCurve[0].taperCurve_FloatValue”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.taperCurve[0].taperCurve_Interp”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.taperCurve[0].taperCurve_Position”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.twist”);
setAttr -cb off ($leaveLTZ + “.smoothingAngle”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.divisions”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.keepFacesTogether”);
}

global proc leaveLTZ (string $leaveLTZ)
{
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localDirectionX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localDirectionY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localDirectionZ”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localRotateX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localRotateY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localRotateZ”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localScaleX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localScaleY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localScaleZ”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localTranslateX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localTranslateY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.pivotX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.pivotY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.pivotZ”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.random”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.rotateX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.rotateY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.rotateZ”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.scaleX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.scaleY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.scaleZ”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.translateX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.translateY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.translateZ”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localCenter”);
}

//Removing unwanted Cylinder Attributes //
leaveLTZExt($sw[0]);
leaveLTZ($sw[0]);

leaveLTZExt($rim[0]);
leaveLTZ($rim[0]);

leaveLTZ($SWBuldge[0]);
leaveDivV($polySub[0]);
remScale($wmd[0]);
leaveRHeight($wmd[1]);

// Adding Tire Attributes //
select -r $wmd[0] ;
addAttr -ln “SideWallHeight” -at double -min 0 -max 100 -dv 65 ;
addAttr -ln “SideWallBuldge” -at double -min 0 -max 500 -dv 260 ;
addAttr -ln “TireWidth” -at double -min 0 -max 500 -dv 235 ;
addAttr -ln “WheelDiameter” -at double -min 0 -max 100 -dv 18 ;
addAttr -ln “WheelPassThrough” -at double -min 0 -max 1000 -dv 0 ;
addAttr -ln “OuterCircumference” -at double -min 0 -max 10000 -dv 0 ;

// Making Tire Attributes Keyable //
setAttr -e -keyable true ($wmd[0] + “.WheelDiameter”) ;
setAttr -e -keyable true ($wmd[0] + “.SideWallBuldge”) ;
setAttr -e -keyable true ($wmd[0] + “.TireWidth”) ;
setAttr -e -keyable true ($wmd[0] + “.SideWallHeight”) ;
setAttr -e -keyable true ($wmd[0] + “.OuterCircumference”) ;

// Making Circumference Dimension //
select -r $wmd[0] ;
string $WMDGroup = `group -n “WheelMeasuringDeviceGroup”`; xform -os -piv 0 0 0;

string $CircumDimension = “CircumferenceDimension1″;
string $DummyLoc1[] = `spaceLocator -p 50 50 50 -n DistanceLocator1`;
string $DummyLoc2[] = `spaceLocator -p 50 50 51 -n DistanceLocator1`;
distanceDimension -sp 50 50 50 -ep 50 50 51;
string $DummyDimen[] = `ls -sl`;
string $DummyCircumDimension = `rename $DummyDimen[1] $CircumDimension`;
string $DistLoc1[] = `spaceLocator -p 0 1 0 -n DistanceLocator1`;
string $DistLoc2[] = `spaceLocator -p 0 1000mm 0 -n DistanceLocator1`;
distanceDimension -sp 0 1 0 -ep 0 1000mm 0;
string $DistDimen[] = `ls -sl`;
select -r $DistLoc1;
xform -cp;
move -r 0 -1 0;
select -r $DistLoc2;
xform -cp;
move -r 0 -1000mm 0;
FreezeTransformations;

string $CircumDimension = `rename $DistDimen[1] $CircumDimension`;
delete $DummyCircumDimension;
delete $DummyLoc1;
delete $DummyLoc2;

string $DummySphere[] = `sphere`;
select $DummySphere;
string $DummyCDG = `group -n “CircumferenceDimensionGroup1″`;

select -r $DistLoc1 $DistLoc2 $CircumDimension;
string $CDGroup = `group -n “CircumferenceDimensionGroup1″`;

delete $DummyCDG;
parent $CDGroup $WMDGroup;

// Making Annotation //
select -r $DistLoc2[0];
xform -cp;
string $CircAnnotateShape = `annotate -tx “Circumference” -p 300mm 2500mm 300mm`;
select -r $CircAnnotateShape;
string $CircAnnotate[] = `pickWalk -d up`;
parent $CircAnnotate $CDGroup;

// Connecting Attributes //
select -r $wmd[0];

string $swBuldgeStr = $SWBuldge[0] + “.localTranslateZ = (” + $wmd[0] + “.SideWallBuldge – ” + $wmd[0] + “.TireWidth) * .1″;
expression -s $swBuldgeStr -o $wmd[1] -n “SideWallBuldgeExpression” -ae 1 -uc all ;

string $swhExpStr = $sw[0] + “.localTranslateZ = ” + $wmd[0] + “.SideWallHeight * 0.01 * ” + $wmd[1] + “.height”;
expression -s $swhExpStr -o $wmd[1] -n “SideWallHeightExpression” -ae 1 -uc all ;

string $wdExpStr = $wmd[0] + “.WheelPassThrough = ” + $wmd[0] + “.WheelDiameter * 2.54 * .5″;
expression -s $wdExpStr -o $wmd[0] -n “WheelDiameterExpression” -ae 1 -uc all ;

string $cirExpStr = $wmd[0] + “.OuterCircumference = ((” + $wmd[1] + “.radius * 2) + (” + $sw[0] + “.localTranslateZ * 2)) * 3.1415926535″;
expression -s $cirExpStr -o $wmd[0] -n “WheelCircumferenceExpression” -ae 1 -uc all ;

string $tireWidthStr = $wmd[1] + “.height = ” + $wmd[0] + “.TireWidth * .1″;
expression -s $tireWidthStr -o $wmd[1] -n “TireWidthExpression” -ae 1 -uc all ;

/*TireWidth Passthrough
*/
connectAttr -f ($wmd[0] + “.WheelPassThrough”) ($wmd[1] + “.radius”);
connectAttr -f ($wmd[0] + “.OuterCircumference”) ($DistLoc2[0] + “.translateY”);

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The Monk & The Monkey from Brendan Carroll on Vimeo.

A determined young boy, Ragu, is sent by his master on his final quest to become a monk. A seemingly simple task becomes an unexpected challenge for Ragu as he discovers the real value of his quest.

© 2010 Brendan Carroll & Francesco Giroldini. Music by Erez Koskas.
Ringling College of Art + Design.

If you like this video please visit their Vimeo page and let them know you like it.

On the Border

Before our review of the place I just wanted to say thanks to Jack Dempsey at www.DempseyVFX.com for joining me every Monday to find the best Mexican restaurant in the area!

On the Border is perched up on a hill right in the heart of the Mexican district of Novi across from Taco Bell.

It’s got a bit of a Mexican theme, pretty busy more than half the tables are filled for lunch. They got some nice NEC TV’s in the bar area with a really thin bezel on them which gave them a great look. It looks like they had a few tables outside to sit at when it’s warm out.

Got sat, ordered some drinks and got some hot chips and these are like the big wafer chips. Tasted good and brought out more chips and salsa without asking pretty much.

They got a choose 2 for lunch so I usually get a hard shell beef taco and chicken enchilada. Recently I tried the beef enchilada and I liked it just as much as the Chicken one. They have good size portions and the food came out quick, even when they were busy.

Mexican Monday came twice one week and we chose to spend it at On the Border again because of Cinco De Mayo. We found out they had a party tent set up in the parking lot and had the Killer Flamingo’s playing all evening until 2am. So we went back again after work and had a couple of over priced cervezas for a drinking holiday that know one really knows what it’s for. There were a few people there that were havin’ some fun for sure. We didn’t stay too late, but I can imagine how sloshed some people got.

Anyways the place seems to have quite a bit going for it even though it’s a chain. It looks like they know what they’re doing.

You can take our word for it or try ‘em out for your self, either way, happy Mexican Monday!

Previous “Mexican Monday’s” to eat at in Farmington Hills!

Border Cantina

This was on of the first places we went to for Mexican Monday. It was just an all around a good experience and inspired us to keep exploring for a better Mexican Monday in the Area.

They weren’t too busy, fast service, good free chips n’ Salsa, good prices, a decent Mexican atmosphere. It just didn’t quite make the number #1 spot for Mexican Monday.

Stay tuned for this Monday the 24th on our review of the best Mexican Monday restaurant in the Farmington Hills/Novi Area!!!

Next up the “#1 Mexican Restaurant” to eat at in Farmington Hills!
Previous #3 ROJO (that’s a soft “J”)

ROJO

(It’s a soft “J”)

Rojo was our final effort on finding the best Mexican Restaurant for Mexican Monday’s and it definitely was the nicest place we visited on our quest. Although we feel that it just didn’t make it beyond the 3rd best place we had been.

Rojo is the blue building in the map above in the Novi Fountain Walk. Not the most Mexican themed but a a very modern and contemporary place. We walked in through the archway and was seated by the greeter. They weren’t busy maybe 2 other tables at the time. We opted for a table as the booths were super romantic for a couple guys eatin’ some Mexican on a Monday.

It just so happened that we got the lucky table with a plate stuck to the table from a piece of gum! Yeah how does that happen?! The Hostess/Waitress was super apologetic and moved us to a new clean table. No gum here. I guess normally they don’t offer free chips n’ Salsa but she got us some anyways for the little gum situation. Their Chips n’ Salsa was set up much nicer than the freebies at some of the others. You get your base salsa and a couple of bottles of hot sauce on the side to spice it to your liking’s.

Now what I didn’t expect was the price for lunch. I expected this place to be much more expensive than the other places we had been. In the $12 to $20 range for taco’s beans and rice and normally it would be during dinner. For lunch time they have some great specials. 6 different meals for 6 buks. That’s pretty good. Now normally you don’t get the free chips but hey it’s a good deal. And I think on Tuesday’s they have 50 cent Taco’s or something. So the price is great for lunch.

I thought the taco’s were good. The beef was better than th chicken, beans and rice were the best of the bunch I had. All in all it was a good place, just not the Mexican atmosphere you so desire on a Monday and no free chips so it ended up here in the bottom half of the top of the list with 3 or so stars out of 5.

Next up is #2 “Border Cantina”
Previous #4 El Nibble Nook