from what I was reading,
it says you can use the group editor to define polys for a new smoothing group
to make a 'second skin' act like the neck or sleeve of a t-shirt (harder edge, right?).

it's probably staring me in the face, and I can't see it.

how do I access the smoothing parameter dial for the group I just made?
I'm not finding it in the bodypart dropdown list.

Thanks!

I should change my username to Klutzy

Hi Misty,

The Group Editor in Poser can not create new groups of polygons, per se.  That is, you can not create new polygons, i.e., increase the total number of polygons in a figure.  You can only use the Grouping Tool to select certain (existing) polygons to assign material or assign them to a "smoothing group" as opposed to a group of polygons that is not assigned to a smoothing group.  Polygons that are not assigned to a smoothing group may have hard edges as opposed to smooth edges.

Smooth edges are used for figures to smooth transitions between body parts, etc.

Hard (not smooth) edges are normally used for mechanical type of object props such as a box that would look funny if you smoothed the edges.  That could make it look like a round balloon.

Hope this help asplain things

cheers,
dr geep
;=]

How do I get to the smoothing group parameter on the new smoothing group?

or rather I should say, the crease parameter on the new smoothing group?

thanks. -Lara

Sorry Lara, :sad:

I have played with this "feature" for several hours and ...
... can not make it work per the instructions in the manual.  :cursing: ___ %&@$%@$#**

Perhaps someone else will happen along and can shed some light on this "mystery."

cheers, (anyway)
dr geep
;=]

one can assign a new material name to a new group of polygons in group editor.
said group (material) can use a displacement map to give it a ridge, as in the displacement between a sleeve end and the skin.

Quote - Sorry Lara, :sad:

I have played with this "feature" for several hours and ...
... can not make it work per the instructions in the manual.  :cursing: ___ %&@$%@$#**

Perhaps someone else will happen along and can shed some light on this "mystery."

cheers, (anyway)
dr geep
;=]

Thanks Dr. Geep.  I appreciate the time you spent to help.

I have a theory some stuff in the manual is a carry over from earlier versions, that don't work anymore.

Quote - one can assign a new material name to a new group of polygons in group editor.
said group (material) can use a displacement map to give it a ridge, as in the displacement between a sleeve end and the skin.

it would be a handy feature, if poser could export a uv map of the new material group.
it's hard to find the corresponding part of the 'under-lying' texturemap. 

unless, someone has worked this out already?

yes, they've worked that out.  assign a material zone to each group and then run one of the scripts that gives a different colour to contiguous zones.  they use it for texture seams.  but this "smoothing group" appears to be something else.  like if one is doing a smooth-shaded preview and one wants creases to appear somewhere away from a body part edge, in an analogous way to setting the same toon ID so there will be a line between groups that are to use a different toon shader.  the main place where the new group names appear is in deformer zone dropdown lists.  I don't see anywhere to set smoothing and crease angle for the new group.  I don't see any python variables for it, either.

I think you mean "crase angle" option (default 0,80).

If yes you cannot assign different "crease angle" parameters to 1 mesh - or I do not know how to do it. Anyway you can set it to separate mesh - prop or body part in parameters/properties window. It is visible in preview mode and on render when you check "smooth polygon" option.

you can assign a new smoothing/crease angle, per group area,  from the parameters pallet in poser 6/7/Pro.