Maya tools in Python

-by Python/Pymel, Maya

Coral Creator

Made from May 20 to August 10, 2016

These are the tools I've done for self-learning. My goal is to create a coral creator in Maya so artist can create an environment under the ocean easily.

I use Python and Pymel liberary, and in the end I create two different creator for two kinds of corals:

(1) Acropora:

This kind of coral has branches grow in different direction. If the branches are flourishing, the coral will look like a dome.

The steps to create an acropora are:

Create a base:
There are two values you need to set before creating the base: one is the size of the coral, the other is how much you want to make the branch thinner. After set the number and click "Create" button on the creator, a coral with 11 branches will be created.
Create branches:
There are two ways to create branches for the coral: one is to create branch from a random face, the other is to create branch on the face you choose. The branch's length, angle, and direction will depend on which branch this face is on and the position of the face. If you don't like the branch it created, just click "Undo"
Smooth:
When you satisfied with the coral, smooth it by clicking "Smooth" button. Because you can't add more branches after smooth the coral, change to smooth mode to check before smoothing it.
Add rough skin:
Most of the coral have rough skin, so we can do some extrude to make the coral looks rough. First we need to set values for what percent of faces you want to do extrude (More faces will make the coral looks more rough), the height of the extrude (you can make it like a hill or make it a hole), and face size after the exturde. After setting those values, there are two ways to create the rough skin: the first way will have smooth edge around the extrude face, and the second way will have sharp edge.
Smooth again (if you fill the rough skin faces are too square-like)

(2) Gorgonian:
This kind of coral is more flat-like than acropora. The steps for creating gorgonian is almost the same as creating acropora, the only different is the base. You only need to set the height of the coral, and the base is only one root of the coral.