Chapter 7. Nurbs Curves and Surfaces


NURBS modeling is a powerful technique with a broad variety of uses. NURBS objects can be sharp edged or easily made into complicated multidirectional curved surfaces. These intricate curves and geometric shapes make them well suited to modeling mechanical items such as sports cars, as well as many organic shapes. NURBS modeling can require some forethought and strategy for complicated tasks, but it's often the best choice for objects that are easily defined by profiles, edges, or simple rounded shapes.

NURBS objects are divided into two categories: curves and surfaces. Surfaces are broad areas of geometry that can be planar or form very complicated topography. Most NURBS models are composed of many of these surfaces, which are positioned edge to edge like sheets of paper. Together, they form complete, seemingly unbroken objects. A surface is defined by the curves in or around it, and all NURBS modeling depends on the careful positioning and manipulation of these curves.

Although NURBS curves are different from Bézier curves; you create and edit them similarly. Bézier and NURBS curves represent curved lines whose shape you can define by translating or adding points along the curve. You can use NURBS curves to create a framework for a final surface, much the same way you would make a wire mesh to cover with paper maché (Figure 7.1).

Figure 7.1. A set of NURBS curves and the surface created from them.





Maya 7 for Windows and Macintosh(c) Visual Quickstart Guide
Maya 7 for Windows & Macintosh
ISBN: 0321348990
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 185

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