The Property View

The Property View shows properties of each network node type. There are properties that each network node type share in common (like the name) whereas certain properties are relative to each network node type. The property view also shows extra information about how the network node relates to other nodes in the network. To see properties of a network node select the node in the Shape View.

Common Properties

Network Node Type

The first element to see in the Property View is the Network Node Type.

Network Node Name

Then for each network node type (except Folder Groups) there is a long and short base name. The reason for the base name is that the final naming for the blend shape target the network node represents will also possible include split map names, incremental values and zip delimiters. Naming structure is based on a naming object model and its properties are setup via the Preferences View. The Preferences View is the UI element that displays the naming information stored in a ".ini" configuration file.

Neutral Mesh

Next is the neutral mesh this network node is referring to - this is helping as Aria supports multiple shape networks within one Aria file. So for example there might be two neutrals - one for the skin and one for the teeth that both have a shape called jawOpen. By seeing which neutral this network node refers to hit helps the user know which mesh in the scene this node will represent.

The file path shows you the current file path for the OBJ file that this node can be connected to. There is a folder icon to navigate to a directory and declare the OBJ you want associated with the network node. If environment variables exist in the path the icon to the right of the folder can be toggled to show the full path evaluation of the environment variable.

Enable Checkbox

The Enable checkbox allows you to enable/disable the node. The enabled state is reflected in the Shape View and vice versa - if you updated the enabled state in the Shape View the Property View will automatically update. As mentioned in the Shape View document regarding enable/disable from a build state:

Before Building

For a pre-built network a white round icon will denote that the network node will be built and added to the blend shape node as a target during build. You can disable the node and not have it built and added to the blend shape node by clicking on the icon turning it to a black circle. If you disable a node that has downstream dependents, like combinations, then those combinations are disabled by Aria and will not be built and added to the blend shape node.

After Building

if the network has been built and this node represents a target on the blend shape node then enabling the node will apply its deltas whereas disabling the node will remove its deltas. This is ideal when trying to see the contribution of nodes and their deltas to the effect on the neutral mesh. For example, if you have a combination node and disable it, you will see what the deltas look like without the sculpted corrective deltas. By toggling the enable/disable button modelers are able to see the delta change for any given node.

Referenced Checkbox

This checkbox informs you if this node is referenced. Aria has the capability to reference networks much like Maya can reference files. This is an informative checkbox only - its state cannot be edited by the user.

During Build Use

This options tells Aria which mesh to use for split generation when building with splits. It is only relevant if you building the network with splits on. If set to "Symmetrical Mesh" Aria will split the symmetrical mesh to generate split meshes to be used as target meshes for the blend shape node. If the option is set to "Split Meshes" Aria will use any existing split meshes in the scene and not re-split the symmetrical mesh. This is an important feature if a split side has unique features on the character that need to be preserved. 

If "Symmetrical Mesh" is on but no symmetrical mesh exists in the scene Aria will use any existing split meshes in the scene if building with splits. If no splits existing in the scene then Aria will try to regenerate the mesh from the deltas stored in the blend shape node. If no targets for this node exist on the blend shape node then Aria will try to import the mesh from disk and split it.

Split Node Properties

For split network nodes the Property View lists the split map file (in a pull down so you can change it) and the full path to the split map file itself.

Primary Node Properties

The Property View has many associated elements for Primary network nodes. As you can see in the image below the jawOpen Primary network node has incremental nodes, zip nodes, downstream dependents (combinations) that jawOpen participates in and is also driven by a Maya node attribute. Each one of these elements to jawOpen is listed in a separate section in the Property View.

If a symmetrical Primary network node is selected and it has split nodes the Property View shows the split information.

If the Primary node has Incremental nodes associated with it the Property view lists the incremental nodes and includes an area to select each incremental and change its data.

If a Primary network node has downstream dependent nodes (combinations) then those combinations are listed in a separate section.

If a Primary network node is being driven then all of the driver data is listed in a section in the Property View.

From the Property View you can edit a number of various types of properties on a Primary node.

Incremental Node Properties

For Incremental network nodes the Property View will list the UI elements to alter the incremental trigger value and falloff curve.

Combination Node Properties

Combination Level

The first unique property for the Combination node in the Property View is the "Combination Level". The Combination Level is the number associated with which level this combination node resides in the network. If a Combination node has only Primary upstream driver nodes then it is considered level 2. If a Combination node has another Combination node as a driver then the new Combination node is whichever the highest level amongst any Combination drivers + 1. So if a Combination node has a level 2 Combination node as a driver then it would be considered level 3.

Input Weight Mixer

The "Input Weight Mixer" is exposed to allow you to test various input mixing schemes to see which produce the best result of the combination weight. The mixing of driver values is defaulted to Multiply.

Update Combination Split Targets

This button allows you to update/refresh the combination split target nodes when a Combination node's upstream drivers have split nodes added or removed. It allows Aria to recalculate the combination split target nodes that will live on the blend shape node.

For Combination network nodes additional elements are added to view the upstream and downstream aspects of the node.

In the Upstream Drivers section you can list all of the upstream drivers - all the way to primaries or only the "Direct Drivers". For example under "Direct Drivers" if you had a level 3 or higher Combination node this would only list the other Combination driver nodes and not the primaries if all drivers are Combination nodes. You can sort the upstream nodes based on network level - if this is off the Property View will list the drivers alphabetically.

Combination Split Targets

When selecting a Combination Split Target (Under a Combination Network Node) the Property view will list the exact split in the upstream and downstream elements.

Notice also in the image below that the "During Build Use" and "Input Weight Mixer" are greyed out as combination split targets are considered "children" and inherit properties from the symmetrical Combination node.