Gridding textiles for a Texture Mapping scene

How to grid folds and contours

There are different grid tools to use dependant on what type of object you are trying to grid. Often with textiles there are many folds and contours to the object, so we need more control over our grids.

Using the Contour Grid Tool

The Contour Grid Tool is used for the creation of irregular shaped grids and is used in areas where the grid has to trace the movement of a garment or an object.

Each individual square within the grid is defined by the user, as you ‘knit’ the cells inside the grid, one by one. In the following example, the grid is created with rows running from left to right, working downwards for ease of explanation. However, you can easily create a grid using columns in a different direction if you prefer.

Go to Grid Menu > Add Grid and select the Contour Grid Tool from the Tools Palette.
Starting at the top left corner of the area you wish to grid, click a point which you wish to be the top left point of the first cell to start the ‘thread’.
Click again to the right. Your second click will define the top of the first cell. Your third click will make the top of the 2nd cell. Your fourth will form the top of the 3rd cell. Continue clicking to the right until you have covered the width of the area you are gridding.
To end the row, double click on the final point. This will join the thread back to your starting point.
Click at the point that you wish to become the bottom left hand corner of the first row of cells and then click to the right at the point where you wish the bottom right hand corner to be. You will now have created your first complete cell.
Continue clicking to the right to complete the first row of cells. At the end of the line, double click to return the thread to the left side and begin a second row of cells.
Continue creating rows of cells until the grid covers the desired area of the scene.
To finish the grid, choose another tool from the Tools Palette.

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Note: The grid cells do not have to be created as perfect squares, it is just as quick and easy to make them follow the shape of the fabric. Creating the shape as you plot the grid avoids having to manipulate it later. If you click a point incorrectly, you can press the B key on the keyboard to undo it. The thread will move back one point and you can click the new point again.

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Adding cells to existing grids

The Contour Grid Tool can be used to add extra cells to existing grids. This method will only add cells to the bottom line of the original grid. You cannot add cells to the top or sides of existing grids.

Make sure the relevant grid layer is active and select the Contour Grid Tool. The bottom right corner of the grid will become active.
Press B on the keyboard to undo the last point which completes the last cell in the grid.
Double click on this last point and you will be able to start a new row at the bottom left of the grid by clicking new points, as before. From here, the grid can be continued as normal.

Using the Perspective Grid Tool

The Perspective Grid places a grid within the outline of a rectangle. It is the perfect tool for creating a grid which narrows to a focal point, such as walls within a room, because it uses real perspective to make objects look smaller as they get further into the distance.

Go to Grid Menu > Add Grid and select the Perspective Grid Tool from the Tools Palette.

Click four points to create the first, second, third and fourth corners of the grid, moving in a clockwise direction.

When you click the fourth point the grid is automatically completed and the grid cells fill the shape.

Scaling options are used to calculate the size of each grid cell. These are used for both the Perspective Grid Tool and the Rectangular Grid Tool. The scaling options are described in more detail in the Rectangular Grid Tool section. Once the grid options have been set, every grid created with the Perspective Grid Tool will relate to the sizes selected and will be scaled accordingly.

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Freehand Gridding Tool

This tool is best used when gridding irregular shaped objects, such as curtains or clothing. It is particularly useful when the object has a lot of pleats and/or movement.

Instructions for using this tool

Go to Grid Menu > Add Grid or use the shortcut in the Layers Palette to add a Grid Layer
Set your Grid Cell Count using the across and down options as shown below, you can add more grids later to improve the smoothness of your grid if needed.
Using the tool draw your first line across the top of the object you want to grid, paying attention to the contours, bends and folds of the object. Or click individual points using your mouse.

To change the colour of the line go to AVA Menu: Settings: Appearance and change your default line colour
Click new line
Then repeat for the bottom of the object
Click Make Grid to create your grid