Mesh > Sculpt Geometry Tool

Overview:
The Sculpt Geometry tool allows you to use brush-like strokes to reshape your model by pushing
and pulling the vertices in and out to essentially mould the surface. You can quickly use it to rough
out an organic shape or add details to an existing model but since it moves around the vertices the
surface must be very dense for this tool to work correctly. Maya has a sculpt geometry tool for all
three geometry types, Polygons, NURBS and subdivision surfaces.

Tutorial:
To prepare a surface for sculpting:

1. Choose Create > Subdiv primitives > Sphere

2. Scale sphere up to 1.5 in y direction. Press 3 to select the fine level of smoothness.

3. Right-click the sphere and select Face. Select the front face, right-click and select refine select-
ed. Refine where the eyes wil be, a few more times.
To sculpt using the Sculpt Geometry tool:

4. Right-click the head and select Vertex and Display Level > 4.

5. Select the vertices you wish to sculpt, as an object must be selected when choosing the tool.
Open the Sculpt Geometry Tool box. Set radius(U) and Opacity to .05, Max. Displacement to .3
and Operation to Push. Radius determines the size of the brush while opacity determines how
much effect the brush has on the surface. Max. Displacement is the maximum possible depth or
height of the brush stroke.

6. Click and drag to begin sculpting an eye socket. If you sculpt close to the edge of the refined
surface, Maya automatically refines it for you.

7. Set the operation to pull and you can drag geometry away from the surface. Pull up ridges for
the eyebrows.

8. You can use similar steps to add a nose, mouth, etc. The other operations and settings will help
you do this.
Other Operations:
Smooth - allows you to smooth out bumps

Relax - softens edges

Pinch - pulls out as if you were pinching the surface and pulling it out

Erase - restores vertices to their last saved state

Other Settings:
- specifies the amount of smoothing the tool applies to the surface.

- controls the direction the vertices move when you push or pull.

- vertices move in the direction of the surface normal.

- vertices move the direction established by the surface at the beginning of the stroke.

- vertices move parallel to the camera view direction.

- vertices move in the direction of whichever axis is chosen only.

- moves CVs in the direction of the U or V isoparm when sculpting NURBS.

- sets how close vertices must be along an edge, and how close
edges on the same surface must be to each other before they are
detected as common.

- applies the Operation to all selected vertices.

Bibliography
AutoDesk Maya 2010, Mesh > Sculpt Geometry Tool, http://download.autodesk.com/us/maya/2010help/index.
html?url=Mesh__Sculpt_Geometry_Tool.htm,topicNumber=d0e219715.

Kundert-Gibbs, John. & Derakhshani, Dariush. & Larkins, Mick. & Kunzendorf, Eric 2007, Mastering Maya 8.5, Chapter:
Details, details and Subdivision Surfaces, Wiley Publishing, Indiana, p. 207.

Learning Autodesk Maya 2009: The Modelling & Animation Handbook, 2008, Autodesk, USA, p. 153, 345, 443.

Robinson, Morgan. & Stein, Nathaniel. 2007, Maya 8: Visual Quickstart Guide, Peachpit Press, USA, p. 160, 228, 230-
232.