xGen Interactive Grooming clumping issue

[visiblep]

Forgive me if this is an easy question.  I'm trying to learn to use xGen to create hair.  I'm using xGen Interactive Groom.  When I add a "clump" modifier, the tips of hairs from different regions come together to a point.  Sometimes they come together from the opposite sides of the scalp base geometry that I'm using.  I've added some screen shots.  One shows the hair with the clump modifier turned off.  Then other is with the clump modifier turned on.  Does anyone know what's going on here and how I can fix it?

[jordan.giboney]

Hi @visiblep 

Thanks for posting! Some movement is expected when adding this modifier. See this tutorial (around the 40 second mark): Maya Help: Work with Clump Modifiers Can you edit/groom the hair as expected after applying the modifier?

Are you seeing this behavior in all grooms (even super simple test ones), or just this specific one? Can you also tell me what version of Maya you are working with? Prior to creating the groom, did you delete the history on the mesh/scalp? This can often influence the behavior of hairs if not done. 

Thanks again for being a part of our community! I look forward to hearing from you.

[visiblep]

Hi Jordan,

I'm using Maya 2019.  I tried deleting the history on the base geometry and starting over as you suggested but that hasn't changed the results.  I think my problem occurs because I'd like to have a clumping effect, but I'd also like to have a nice clean part in the hair.  So far, I haven't been able to find a good way to have both.  I can get a nice part when using guides and a region map, but as soon as I turn clumping on, any clump regions that span the part in the hair try to come back together, causing the same problem.  I get the same problem when I try to groom the hair by first parting it and then combing the hair to each side of the head.  It's all about the clumping regions spanning the hair part.  I've found a work around of splitting up the base geometry along the part and creating two separate hair descriptions.  It works ok, but it's not ideal as grooming the hair in the back where I don't want the part is difficult because I'm trying to match the hair from the two different descriptions. 

[visiblep · Accepted solution]

I found my answer right after posting my last reply.  I checked "Use Control Map" , under "Clump Map" and used the region map for the hair part as the "Custom Map".  I thought I had already tried that, but I guess I must have done something wrong that time.  Anyway, thanks for your help.