To change Soft Select settings in Maya, you first need to enable the feature and then access its options window. The primary method to access the settings is by double-clicking the Soft Select tool icon or using the dedicated options shortcut.
As mentioned in the provided reference, you can enable Soft Selection by hitting the b key on your keyboard. Once enabled (you'll see a colored falloff gradient on your selected component), you can adjust its behavior.
Accessing Soft Select Settings
The most common ways to access the Soft Select options window are:
- Double-Clicking: Find the Move, Rotate, or Scale tool icon in the Toolbox on the left side of your Maya interface. Double-click the icon of the tool you are currently using with Soft Select enabled. This will open the Tool Settings window, specifically to the options for that tool, including the Soft Selection parameters.
- Tool Settings Window: If the Tool Settings window is already open, simply ensure Soft Selection is enabled (press
b) and the options will appear within the window under the Soft Selection section.
Key Soft Select Settings Explained
Within the Soft Selection options, you'll find various parameters to control how the selection falloff behaves. Understanding these settings allows for precise manipulation of your mesh or components.
Here's a breakdown of common settings:
- Soft Selection: This is a checkbox to quickly toggle Soft Selection on or off.
- Radius: Defines the size of the sphere of influence around your selected component(s). Components within this radius will be affected.
- Falloff Mode: Determines the shape of the falloff curve. Common modes include:
- Surface: Calculates distance along the mesh surface (better for organic shapes).
- Volume: Calculates distance in 3D space (like a sphere, good for general shaping).
- Global: Affects components based on their position relative to the selected component, regardless of object structure.
- Falloff Curve: This is a visual representation of how the influence decreases from the center of the selection to the edge of the radius. You can edit this curve to customize the falloff shape (e.g., linear, smooth, stepped).
Here's a quick look at some settings:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Radius | Controls the distance from the selected component where influence occurs. |
| Falloff Mode | Determines how the distance for the falloff is calculated (Surface, Volume). |
| Falloff Curve | Visualizes and allows editing of the influence transition. |
By adjusting the Radius and the Falloff Curve, you can significantly change the sculpting effect of Soft Selection, ranging from a sharp, localized influence to a broad, smooth deformation.
Remember, enabling Soft Selection with the b key is the first step, but diving into the Tool Settings allows you to fine-tune its behavior for your specific modeling or sculpting needs.
