Creating Props and Morph Targets

You can convert cloth objects into static props or morph targets for use in scenes where a cloth-like look is desired without the need for a dynamic cloth object. For example, you could create a tablecloth using dynamic cloth and a table prop then convert the dynamic cloth object into a static prop for use in future scenes. If you did this, you would only need to include table legs where visible between the floor and the edge of the cloth, thereby giving you full realism while reducing your scene’s polygon count.

As another example, you could drape a sheet over a figure to create a ghost. Then you could convert the draped sheet to a static prop and use the Setup room to turn it into a poseable ghost.

To create a prop from your dynamic clothing object:

1. Clothify an object as described above.
2. Use the Animation controls to move to your desired frame (the cloth shape changes with each frame as the simulation plays).
3. Use the Grouping tool to spawn a new prop. Please refer to The Group Editor for information on using the Grouping tool and the Group Editor palette.

Creating a prop in this method preserves the shape of the original cloth object at the time you created the prop but removes all transformation (position, rotation, and scale). For example, if you stretch a square into a rectangle, the new prop will appear as a square deformed by the cloth simulation. In this case, reapplying the transformations applied to the original clothified object restores the original appearance to the static prop.

To create a morph target, follow steps 1 & 2 above, then spawn a morph target as you would for any other prop/body part as described in Spawning Morph Targets per Object. You can then apply the morph target to a prop.

Morph targets created in this manner work in exactly the same manner as other morph targets, meaning that all dynamic motion is lost.

You can also export clothified props just like you would any other scene object. Exported cloth objects become static mesh objects in your chosen export format. To do this, follow steps 1 & 2 above, then export the object as described in Exporting Files.