Foundation 3D

Meurig · 24th April 2008, 08:48 AM

I realise there aren't many people here who use Maya but I might get a lucky answer.

Does anybody know how to stop the maya boolean tool from just deleting both the objects it's running the operation on and giving me no usable output? I'm making smashed windows, bits of sharp glass sticking out of half splintered window frames. Making a craggy shaped object and booleaning it through the window PLANE appears to be too much for it.

Is there some hidden knack that I'm missing here, or is it just an accepted and inescapable fact that the maya boolean tool is completely ****ing useless?

darthviper107 · 24th April 2008, 10:23 AM

I don't know about Maya but in Max you have to make sure that the object you're performing the operation on is solid, without holes.

McC · 25th April 2008, 08:22 AM

DarthViper's right. Maya just doesn't operate on non-3D objects. Extrude your planes slightly, then re-run the boolean, and it should work.

To answer your original question, no, there isn't.

If the boolean operator runs into issues, it just nukes both pieces of geometry. I think this relates to how the boolean algorithm runs -- it deletes the source objects once it's done the boolean op to create the new geometry. Even if no new geometry is output, the delete is still performed.

Meurig · 25th April 2008, 08:42 AM

Nah I tried giving them depth and it still just deleted both objects and gave me nothing usable. Thanks for the suggestion though, it did sound promising

In the end I just ported the windows to LW, booleaned them there and ported them back :/ Fart-arse way of doing things but at least it worked.

McC · 25th April 2008, 12:36 PM

Just because I hate an unresolve issue, are you certain you had no unwelded points? No holes in the geometry? I doubt you would

but it never hurts to ask.

Meurig · 25th April 2008, 02:22 PM

No holes and nothing unwelded. It only seems to like booleaning a box out of a box, which isn't all that helpful in the real world

Mook · 27th July 2008, 06:32 AM

I hate to be the one to say it, but Maya's boolean tool really is effed. It does what you described quite a lot for no good reason, and generally I have to flick it to LW, boolean it there, and then flick it back again, just like you did.
Blowed if I know why though.
One way I found of fixing it (sometimes!) is changing the tolerance on the boolean node in the history. Be careful though, because sometimes this removes polys from nowhere near the boolean. Better just to use LW for booleans, methinks.

Paintpapers · 9th August 2008, 04:25 PM

Tis true. Maya's boolean is far too fussy. Doesn't like holes, non-merged vertices, or hidden edges.

24th April 2008, 08:48 AM	#1
Meurig Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 4,550	Maya - Booleans I realise there aren't many people here who use Maya but I might get a lucky answer. Does anybody know how to stop the maya boolean tool from just deleting both the objects it's running the operation on and giving me no usable output? I'm making smashed windows, bits of sharp glass sticking out of half splintered window frames. Making a craggy shaped object and booleaning it through the window PLANE appears to be too much for it. Is there some hidden knack that I'm missing here, or is it just an accepted and inescapable fact that the maya boolean tool is completely ****ing useless?
	__________________ Meurig3d.co.uk

25th April 2008, 08:42 AM	#4
Meurig Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 4,550	Nah I tried giving them depth and it still just deleted both objects and gave me nothing usable. Thanks for the suggestion though, it did sound promising In the end I just ported the windows to LW, booleaned them there and ported them back :/ Fart-arse way of doing things but at least it worked.
	__________________ Meurig3d.co.uk

25th April 2008, 02:22 PM	#6
Meurig Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 4,550	No holes and nothing unwelded. It only seems to like booleaning a box out of a box, which isn't all that helpful in the real world
	__________________ Meurig3d.co.uk

27th July 2008, 06:32 AM	#7
Mook Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 1,554	I hate to be the one to say it, but Maya's boolean tool really is effed. It does what you described quite a lot for no good reason, and generally I have to flick it to LW, boolean it there, and then flick it back again, just like you did. Blowed if I know why though. One way I found of fixing it (sometimes!) is changing the tolerance on the boolean node in the history. Be careful though, because sometimes this removes polys from nowhere near the boolean. Better just to use LW for booleans, methinks.
	__________________ Constructive Criticism Junkie Current WIP: Personal: P-47D Thunderbolt Just completed: Product Shot from Tutorial

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24th April 2008, 10:23 AM	#2
darthviper107 Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 324	I don't know about Maya but in Max you have to make sure that the object you're performing the operation on is solid, without holes.

25th April 2008, 08:22 AM	#3
McC Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Bridgewater, MA, USA Posts: 208	DarthViper's right. Maya just doesn't operate on non-3D objects. Extrude your planes slightly, then re-run the boolean, and it should work. To answer your original question, no, there isn't. If the boolean operator runs into issues, it just nukes both pieces of geometry. I think this relates to how the boolean algorithm runs -- it deletes the source objects once it's done the boolean op to create the new geometry. Even if no new geometry is output, the delete is still performed.

25th April 2008, 12:36 PM	#5
McC Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Bridgewater, MA, USA Posts: 208	Just because I hate an unresolve issue, are you certain you had no unwelded points? No holes in the geometry? I doubt you would but it never hurts to ask.

9th August 2008, 04:25 PM	#8
Paintpapers Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9	Tis true. Maya's boolean is far too fussy. Doesn't like holes, non-merged vertices, or hidden edges.

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