Vanessa Stotz

Maya Tool based on Pixars Profile Curves

Summary

The Maya tool developed in this project allows the user to draw profile curves and provides multiple editing options for the curves. It also offers an easy way to integrate the Curvenet into an existing rig by constraining the control points to the joints and adding the profile curves to the mesh as a wire deformer. The tool was developed using Python and Maya’s native functions.

First introduced in 2022 by Pixar Animation Studios, Profile Curves represent a new way of skinning a character, with the rig being independent of the mesh and therefore changes to it. Each profile curve has control points, allowing the animator to manipulate the shape at any animation stage.

Thesis Creation of a Maya Tool based on the Paper Character Articulation through Profile Curves