Problem with Mirror Geometry

[ruediger.hahn]

Hi,

did build some object out of different geo, grouped it. But if I try to mirror it over around the X axes. Two things happen: it does not mirror around the 0 of x-axes and it 'falls apart'. Reason: for some silly reason (me) all ojects in this group have a different x value. Right now I do not why, all were created in 0/0/0 and moved in place. Question: How can I give all geo the same values so I can mirror?

Thanks in advance. 🙂 

[pshwayka · Accepted solution]

If you're going to mirror a group, it will be easier if you select the group and click Edit->Duplicate Special. Go into the settings for the Duplicate Special command and set the scale to -1 before you apply the command.

[trevor.adams]

Hi Ruediger,

We actually addressed this by rewriting Mirror Geometry in the latest release of Maya, 2016 Extension 2.  Now, you can set the merge threshold to a high value and only ever merge two vertices (the pairs) together, plus Maya now automatically calculates the proper threshold for you, so there's no work to be done by the user.  So in a scenario like yours, it would be a single step to get what you're looking for: Mirror.  Check this video for details:

https://youtu.be/AHN8Qzermhk?t=1446

In the meantime, you could select all vertices you want to align and scale along the X axis - with "Prevent Negative Scale" enabled by default in the Tool Settings, scaling will stop at 0, aligning all your vertices along the same plane.  Otherwise, you could select all vertices you want to align and in the Channel Box, click CVs (click to show) right at the top of the panel and manually enter an X value for each of the vertices to align.

Hope that helps...

[pshwayka]

The fact that he used the phrase "Mirror Geometry" made me think he's not using Ext2, since the menu item is just "Mirror" in Ext2. (It's the Sherlock Holmes in me.) 

Also, I pictured his scene as having a group of objects (like a wheel and a hubcap) that he wants to reflect across "X". I could be wrong...it certainly wouldn't be the first time...

[ruediger.hahn]

No, Sherlock You are right. 🙂 Made Roboteye with lenses and socket. And no way to update my Maya. To learn Maya I can not afford my own lisence.

No worry, legal student lisence. 🙂 Just give me a few more months. 

Thanks for Your help!! Even Maya crashes like crazy, f.. up autosafe, goes black on Marquie Selection... I love it and have fun learning. 🙂

[ruediger.hahn]

Thanks. Had this one for sure in a tutorial. But if You not use it right away... 😞

One more question: why did it flip the normals? No big issue, but to make it better next time.

[pshwayka]

Hi Ruediger,

Glad that worked for you! As for the normals flipping...that has never happened to me, but I recall a long thread about it from a couple of years ago.

Maybe @trevor.adams has some insight into why that happens sometimes.