Separating a mesh in Maya based on a selection is a common task, typically used to break one object into multiple parts. This is often done after modeling to prepare parts for rigging, texturing, or further editing.
To separate a mesh by selection in Maya, you use the Extract function.
How to Separate Mesh by Selection Using Extract
The primary method involves selecting specific components (like faces) that define the pieces you want to isolate.
- Select Components: In Maya, switch to Component mode (usually F8) and select the specific faces, edges, or vertices that belong to the part you want to separate. For separating shells or defined sections, selecting faces is the most common method.
- Apply Extract: With your desired components selected, go to the main menu bar and navigate to Edit Mesh > Extract.
As stated in the reference: "Select some faces on the shells you want to have separated and then choose Edit Mesh > Extract. Only the shells with the selected faces will be separated into their own separate mesh. Any remaining shells will not be affected."
This action takes the selected components and creates a brand new mesh object from them. The original mesh will still contain the remaining components that were not selected.
Steps for Separation
Here's a breakdown of the process:
- Step 1: Select the mesh object you want to modify in Object Mode.
- Step 2: Switch to Component Mode (e.g., press F11 for Face Mode).
- Step 3: Select the faces corresponding to the section you wish to separate. You can use various selection tools like the Marquee Select tool, Lasso tool, or paint selection. You can select faces from multiple disconnected parts (shells) if you want them all extracted into one new mesh object. If you want each selected shell to become its own separate object, you might need to repeat the process or use different methods depending on the scenario (though Extract on multiple face selections from disconnected shells typically pulls them into a single new object).
- Step 4: Go to the menu: Edit Mesh > Extract.
| Menu Path | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Edit Mesh > Extract | Separates selected components into a new mesh | A new mesh node is created for the selected components. The original mesh retains the unselected components. |
The newly created mesh object will be a separate node in your Outliner and Viewport, completely distinct from the original mesh.
Practical Tip
Often, after extracting, you might want to center the pivot point of the newly separated object. You can do this by selecting the new object and going to Modify > Center Pivot.
This method is efficient for breaking down complex models into manageable pieces based on specific selections.
