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I saw a bluejay on my way to work on Friday! It's feeling as though there are more warm days than cold now. Though an American comedian has quipped that Canadians consider -3C to be balmy - this is true. And for this winter it has been especially true. And I caught myself driving with the window down when it was just above freezing one afternoon a week ago - the sun was very intense. When it comes to characters' hair and their head wear, I try to solve poke through issues with a magnet parented to the hat. I use the magnet to compress the hair prop underneath the confines of the hat prop. The influence of a magnet can be adjusted (with a good amount of patience) to affect only the portion of the hair which would be caught beneath a hat in reality. Firstly, most hat props fit the character they were designed for very snugly. There is nothing wrong with widening it in the x and z directions by as much as five percent first. This leaves a natural gap for the hair to flow out from underneath. For tight bun type hair transmaps or strand hair this may even be enough and no magnet work is needed. But fuller styles of hair will require some form of compression and this is where the magnet comes in. To apply a magnet to a hat (or any other kind of object), select the hat prop in Poser then select "Create Magnet" in the Object menu. Three props will appear: the magnet, the magnet base and the magnet zone (defining the region of space the magnet will influence a group of props). All three will be automatically parented to the hat prop but one should then parent the magnet zone to the magnet base directly. Check the hierarchy editor (Window menu) to see that both the magnet and the magnet zone are parented to the magnet base which is in turn parented to the hat. The magnet, its base and zone should then be centered (zeroed) and oriented upright on the hat prop - y direction up for all three items. The magnet zone is expanded by a factor of ten or more in the x and z directions. Then the lower boundary of the magnet zone is aligned with the lowest point of the hat where the hair would push out in reality. Also in the setup, you must zero the magnet's influence on the hat - otherwise the magnet will compress the hat with the hair - and you must add the hair prop(s) the the list of items the magnet will influence. This technique works with both transmap and strand hair - though strand hair would involve numerous hair props not just one. Then lowering the magnet's x, y and z scales, compress the hair prop into the hat. Start with the y scale to push the hair down - that is mostly what a hat does to hair. Then lower the x and z scales to push the hair in on the sides. And you will also need to adjust the level of the magnet zone relative to the hat (up or down) so that the hair springs back out from the head beneath the hat. Different hair props respond differently to this technique depending upon their quality and complexity. Having a symmetrical hat like Pixie's bowler makes the job easier. The edge of a magnet zone can not be crafted to a series of uneven curves such as the brim on JTrout's riding hat - for V3 of coarse. In those cases one has to work towards best possible look. It is also acceptable to make invisible any hair textures or groups which would not normally be seen with a hat on if your are still getting poke throughs. I hope you have enjoyed this quickie tutorial. Needless to say there are other kinds of subtle adjustment one can utilize for any unique circumstance. I have not mentioned rotating the magnetic base to adjust the angle of magnet influence. You can also do similar things rotating the magnet itself or the magnet zone. I find I have to do some of this as no set up is perfect.

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Sorry, no nudity

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