Vector Displacement Transfer

Author: Brian Lai
Website: brianlaiii.com
Email: brianlaiii@yahoo.com
License: Apache 2.0

Overview

Traditional blendShape workflows apply vertex position offsets in a static world-space manner, meaning they do not account for local rotations or topology-aware transformations. This limitation becomes problematic when dealing with facial expressions, anatomical deformations, or complex shape changes where rotational movement plays a significant role.

This script solves that issue by computing local vertex rotations using neighborhood connectivity. Instead of blindly applying world-space deltas, it ensures that deformations preserve directional intent, resulting in more natural shape propagation and reducing the need for manual sculpting corrections.

Features

✅ Preserves local vertex rotations during delta transfer
✅ Topology-aware deformation propagation
✅ Works with any mesh-based blendShape workflow
✅ Reduces manual sculpting corrections
✅ Lightweight and easy to use

Installation

1. Download the script from this repository.
2. Place the .py file in your Maya scripts directory or any preferred location.
3. Open Maya and run the script in the Script Editor (Python tab).

How to Use

1. Select three meshes in this exact order:

   • Neutral Mesh (Base Mesh) – The undeformed base mesh.
   • Delta Mesh (Deformed Mesh) – The mesh containing the deformation difference.
   • Target Mesh – The mesh where the deformation will be applied.

2. Run the script in Maya’s Python Script Editor.

Example Usage

import maya.cmds as cmds
import vector_displacement_transfer

vector_displacement_transfer.main()