LoveVFX Tutorial // Yeti for Maya

Hi everybody!
In this LoveVFX Tutorial I am showing
how to get started with Yeti for Maya.
Enjoy!

[@g0hegdeh]

The most concise and straight to the point Yeti tutorial! Thank you so much, Lars and Bjorn!

[@radinbatis1302]

thank you very much it was amazing

[@bp4ever215]

why the fur is more longer, all is fine but when I play the animation the fur deforms and is longer

[@LoveVFX]

Hi there, I recommend you to use Houdini for hair simulations! I don’t use Yeti anymore. To your problem: Check your simulation parameters. Cheers!

[@davideisenstadt5875]

Thanks for the great video! I'm having an issue with reading the output fur cache, however. If I load in individual cache frames, it reads it fine, but if I read them in as a sequence, it says the cache does not exist. Any ideas on how to fix this?

[@davideisenstadt5875]

Nevermind-- sorted it out, thanks!

[@LoveVFX]

Hi David, it is good to see that you could sort it out by yourself. I actually don’t use Yeti anymore for grooming. I switched to Houdini for that and more ;-) Cheers!

[@lakhanpatel7779]

Hey, Actually I am facing a problem at the time of Import cache from main yeti file to animation file... I imported that grm file after created yeti node on animated mesh and it's seem fine at default place but when I click on override cache with inputs. That yeti hair disappeared.. I followed all step as per tutorial. So please suggest me something

[@LoveVFX]

Hi Iahhan, I suggest that you go to yeticentral and ask someone there. I am not a grooming artists. The steps I show in the tutorial still work fine for me. Cheers.

[@CeliaDelsaut]

Hi! I have the same problem, did you find a solution?

[@hareshtalvanekar1360]

Hi, Great Tut... Is there any chance where we can Animate the yeti modifier parameters...? It there any chance where we can get twisting animation effect on yeti node...?

[@LoveVFX]

Hi Haresh, I have never animated values in nodes so I guess you'll have to try that out for yourself. For more in depth Yeti questions please reach out to the yeti central community. Cheers!

[@hareshtalvanekar1360]

@@LoveVFX Thanks for the the reply... cheers...!!!

[@angosalvo5734]

@@hareshtalvanekar1360 Try writing "$time " in the length parameter of a grow node and see how it animates. It's done through expressions, or you can use animated texture maps as well.

[@DuyNguyen-ko7lx]

Hi there when i rig and animation with yeti it not keep the shape of fur. You know why ? :(

[@LoveVFX]

Hi! You are not supposed to put the Yeti hair on the rigged character. The hair groom needs to be exported and connected with your animated allembic Geometry. Just follow the steps in the tutorial. Cheers!

[@simonbustamante667]

Thanks man your tutorial helped me a lot! I have some error whiting the output cache can I draft you an email about it??

[@LoveVFX]

Hi Simon, the cache export method described in the tutorial should work fine. Just follow it again...step by step and you will get there. You can also ask the community at Yeti central because there are better grooming artists looking at the posts. Unfortunately I am not a Yeti expert or a grooming TD ;-) Cheers!

[@PradeepKumar-th7mf]

How to download this Yeti for Maya Please help

[@LoveVFX]

You search for (Yeti for Maya) with this magical tool they call google, go to the Peregrine Labs Store and buy a license. Installing Yeti is what will be difficult, if you are not an IT type of person. But I am not an IT guy or a Yeti expert. Cheers!

[@indexMemories]

Why tiff though? Png is 1/100 size of a tiff.

[@LoveVFX]

If png works for you... you can use it.

[@migi847]

Hi, in the importing stage, where u setup connections, from the imported texturerefrence object to the animated mesh, you selected "Refferenceobject" , Its not there on my list :( , I have checked show hidden also, Im using Maya 2019. pls help

[@LoveVFX]

Hi Migara, try selecting the “shape” of the geo with “show hidden” checked. I it doesn’t show up I don’t know what the problem might be. Also, I’m sorry but I’m not a Yeti expert. I hope that solves your problem. Cheers! P.S. I’m starting to learn Houdini. The integrated hair system is amazing!

[@migi847]

@@LoveVFX it works, yes!! I can't wait to see Houdini hair tutorial from u

[@mr.x0017]

Hey @migara ..! Did you got solution on this..?

[@gs-vfx]

Hi. referenceObject is not seen in my connecting editor? why? please help!

[@LoveVFX]

Hi Viktor, you need to export the (Texture Reference Object) from your Grooming scene and import it into your animation scene. Just like I show it in the Tutorial. You also have to make sure that your character has UVs. Cheers!

[@gs-vfx]

@@LoveVFX hi bro. Yes I did it like you show it. Then I wanted to connect my texture object to animated geo. I opened connection editor, reloaded texture object in the left side and animated geo to right side. I chaced “Show Hidden” checkbox of left and right side. I wanted to connect message from left side to referenceObject from right side. But I did not find referenceObject on the right side. Why?

[@LoveVFX]

You have to load in both "shapes" of the objects to see the vlaues that need to be connected. (Just like I show it in the Tutorial) If that doesn't solve your problem I will not be able to help you.

[@olaveiras]

​@@gs-vfx @Hemant Hd Here's the deal: We need to select the objectShape, and not just the object. There's two easy ways to do that and get ReferenceObject selectable: (1) Select you animatedGEO, go to Attribute Editor (CTRL A) and look for a tab named [animatedGEO]Shape (usually it'll be the first tab). At the bottom of this section, click in "Select", go to Connection Editor and use it in "Reload Right". (2) OR, in outliner, in the superior bar go to "Display" and enable "Shapes". All your GEOs will became a group, with the shape node being selectable inside of it. Select it and use it in "Reload Right" in Connection Editor.

[@SeanpaulCarpio]

@@olaveiras Thnx Bro...

[@Sheryno]

I know you have stopped using Yeti, but I do have a question just in case. For whatever reason, rendering in redshift does not work at all (not talking about Arnold), even though I have compatible Yeti and Redshift. Even tried switching the Yeti node material to RedshiftHair but that didn't work at all. Hair does appear in the viewport, but not in the redshift window. Model hasn't changed at all. Please, do you have any idea why that could be? Thanks! EDIT: Nevermind. Got it. Had to do some Windows Environment changes. However, it was weird that older Yeti version (that should have worked with my Redshift) didn't work...

[@LoveVFX]

I am glad you could resolve your problem. I would still recommend you to use Houdini for all things: cfx,fx, lighting and rendering! Cheers!

[@Sheryno]

@@LoveVFX I will consider. Especially if the rendering would be faster. IPR takes eternity. Thanks!

[@Sheryno]

@@LoveVFX Hello! So I reconsidered. I will try Houdini for fur. Yeti is probably not for me. But if possible, please, can you answer me a few questions about it? i tried to look on the internet but I couldn't find an answer of how it works. Like, I will put model (or rig???) into Houdini, make hair, and then I can reimport to Maya to animate? As said, I'm using Redshift renderer and I don't want to change that, but I have no idea how Houdini and hair/special effects (fire, smoke, water, simulation) works. Haven't used Houdini yet and have absolutely no idea how it works. So, I would be very happy if I could at least know the absolute basics. Can I make hair in Houdini, put back in Maya for animation and render with Redshift? If not, how does it all work? Compatibility and such. Thanks!

[@LoveVFX]

@@Sheryno I can only recommend to ditch Maya for lighting and going straight to Houdini/Solaris for it. I can’t tell you about the workflow you were asking about because I have no experience in that area. All the best for you! Cheers!

[@Sheryno]

@@LoveVFX So you're using Houdini for everything? Animation, render and effects?

[@olegzolotov3664]

THX!!! You are safe my life!!

[@mohammadvaroqa5597]

one of the best 3d tutorials have ever seen , thank you man .

[@LoveVFX]

Thank you! :)

[@hemantdoke9831]

thank you so much for this . my English is very bad but Can you please help me out how to do random length of yeti fur thank you

[@LoveVFX]

You can randomize the length of your hair with a groom node and hair strands that you need to transform. I don't know another way.

[@olaveiras]

@Hemant Hd Roll down the page and read the reply I sent to Viktor Sanokulov here. There'll be a solution for that

[@migi847]

Hi, thank you again for all the information you have put here, its been a great help. everything works fine, I imported my groom to my animated mesh it works, it follows the mesh, but the fur is moving rapidly, I made all the dynamic parameters 1 , like stiffness, still the fur moves alot, any idea how to fix it, ?

[@LoveVFX]

Did you check your scale factor?

[@migi847]

@@LoveVFX how exactly does the scale factor work?

[@LoveVFX]

I mean the scale of your maya scene. The hair simulation reacts differently depending on the scale of your scene.

[@omidhs2000]

Hey thank u for this tutorial. Currently i am using yeti 4.2.2. I am trying to render in maya but i dont know how to apply different aihairshader on one yeti node to have more then just one color an my hair, i used the attribute node in the graph but dont know how to get diffrent colors in the render...mayabe u can tell me how to render different colors on one yeto node

[@LoveVFX]

Hi Omid, I think you can only use one shader per Yeti node so you could break up your Hair into pieces to shade them separately. But I could be wrong! I haven’t used Yeti for years! I use Houdini now for Hair, sim, lighting and rendering. Cheers!

[@omidhs2000]

@@LoveVFX ok, i just just tried more then one yeti node, it works. I am working with 2 udims and i have 2two maps for the density but the texture node just using one map, 1001 and not 1002...tried a lot

[@omidhs2000]

@@LoveVFX thans for your response

[@LoveVFX]

I am sorry but I don’t know the answer to that UDIM question for yeti. Do yourself a favor and switch your grooming workflow to Houdini! It’s much more future proof and easier to use! Cheers!

[@golbit4168]

Great tutorial. Directly to the point. Thank you very much.

[@LoveVFX]

You are very welcome! :)

[@sachinkunarraj]

Need help 😩 i trying to load yeti in maya 2024 but it's not loading Its showing in self please help Sir

[@LoveVFX]

Unfortunately I can’t help you with that.

[@sachinkunarraj]

@@LoveVFX ooh it's okay can you suggest any other hair and fur simulation faster and good than xgen please

[@LoveVFX]

Houdini!!!

[@sachinkunarraj]

@@LoveVFX ok thankyou so much i am your new subscriber....

[@PrinceMyles]

Hello! Did you find any solution with Yeti 4.0 as Texture nodes is deprecated? How to create a map for density? Thanks for all!

[@LoveVFX]

Hi, my solution will not please you. I don’t have Yeti 4. It looks like I will be using Houdini for all of my future cfx work. The Houdini hair system is much simpler but still awesome. Sorry for not being able to help you there. Cheers!

[@THEPASHKA]

Hello! When i'm trying to render it with Arnold its just a blank object. How can i fix that?

[@LoveVFX]

THE-PASHKA , I’m sure there is a way to find that out on yeti central or by going through yetis online docs. Cheers!

[@saqibmalic]

hi Thank you so much for tut.i was Follwing your tutorial,on my Doforming Mesh then i realize my Scatter Node keep Generating everyframe its not locked on First Frame,am i Doing anything Wrong?

[@LoveVFX]

Hi there, I am sorry saqib3d but I don’t use Yeti anymore. I am using Houdini for sims and rendering now. Cheers!

[@benmoqbel9516]

man you are great really

[@LoveVFX]

Thank you!

[@kinglaw1688]

how can I use the new texture node?it doesnt have an input for the geometry

[@LoveVFX]

You need to unhide it in the UI as I show it in the video. Just watch that section of the tutorial again and you will see it. Cheers!

[@TruckerChaser]

Please how to use curl node in yeti it no work for me why ?

[@LoveVFX]

I am sorry but I don’t use yeti anymore. I use Houdini for cfx and rendering now. I believe it is easier to work with. Cheers!

[@karthikpl4316]

how to simulate in selected areas??

[@LoveVFX]

I’m sorry Karthik pl but I don’t use Yeti anymore. I have switched to Houdini for lighting, rendering and CFX. Cheers!

[@olaveiras]

Congrats for this great tutorial! I`m having an issue. When I "Import Groom from Selected Yeti Node", this message appears: Yeti 3.1.17: Reference object for ballBody_GEOShape isn't valid, it should be a mesh but is actually a kTransform, defaulting to NO reference object. Yeti 3.1.17: ERROR Reference object for ballBody_GEOShape isn't valid, it should be a mesh but is actually a kTransform, defaulting to NO reference object. I followed all your instructions and revised each detail. There`s something I`m missing?

[@LoveVFX]

Hi Olaf, the only thing I think might be wrong with your scene is that your animated Geo doesn't have the "exact" same name as your Grooming geo. That otherwise I can't guess what's wrong with it. Hope that helps! Cheers!

[@olaveiras]

@@LoveVFX I think I just got ir trough. I forgot to select the SHAPE tab from my geo_reference too.

[@olaveiras]

@@LoveVFX Would you mind if I ask you just another question? The simulation parameters will not be saved in the groom file, or maybe I did something wrong? The need to copy by hand all parameters between files seems kinda weird to me

[@LoveVFX]

Hi Olaf, honestly I couldn't tell you anything about that. For more in depth questions about Yeti I suggest you visit yeticentral. Cheers!

[@freditoblank]

Amazing video man! i really love the way you explain everything. i would of loved this tutorial when i was learning yeti. I actually had to read the whole manual. i'm actually making a taser for my graduation project. i have a couple of questions 1ª should i create the hair before or after the rig is done? 2º i know i have to animate with proxy and then add the hair but you recomend to export and FBX of the animation and then add the groom and yeti nodes? and for last i didn't understand very well the part were you say they both have to have the same name. so if the rigger change the name or combine the object while rigging "it means is not going to work out?" it'd be awesome if you can clear this doubt i have and thanks for this videotut and sorry for my english. keep it up! you are doing and amazing job!

[@LoveVFX]

Hi Freddy! 1. As soon as your model and UVs are final you can start with the grooming 2. I use alembic exports for animation and Hair simulation. 3. As far as I have seen the animated geo (alembic) has to have the same name as your Groom Geo. There might be another way to solve this problem that I am not aware of. I hope that helps! Cheers, Lars

[@edsonbo8871]

Thank you so much for this Lars, incredible tutorial! DO you think you can make more videos of Yeti? Thanks in advance and have a good one!

[@LoveVFX]

Hi Edson! Thank you! :-) At some point I hope to do another Tutorial about Yeti but unfortunately not in the near future. Cheers, Lars

[@illuq5444]

Hey there, I cant even find the refrenceObject node, what do you think i might be doing wrong?

[@LoveVFX]

Hi Illuq, I am sorry to say that I don’t use Yeti anymore. I have switched to Houdini for lighting and rendering. Cheers!

[@illuq5444]

@@LoveVFX I found the issues in a comment you had posted . I should read before writing lol. Anyways thank you for the reply, what made you jump ship to Houdini?

[@LoveVFX]

@@illuq5444 Houdini just makes more sense for me, Maya is still King for Rigging and animation but SideFX are real champs in their development and customer support. Plus…I don’t need to get help to install Yeti anymore for every new Maya release, I just want it to work and not worry about plugins. That is why I am testing out Karma for rendering right now. To see if can get rid of VRay. It is a bit slower (Karma) but I am sure it will get there in a few years.

[@davidalejandrorodriguezram9132]

how do you install yeti in maya?

[@LoveVFX]

documentation.peregrinelabs.com/yeti/installation.html

[@ChikadorangFrog]

More YETI tutorials please

[@LoveVFX]

Possibly at some point in the future ;-)

[@louisrobert3518]

thanks for that tutorial ! but i dont have the same thing in my Connection Editor, I dont have the "referenceObject" in my outputs... Someone has a solution ?

[@LoveVFX]

Use the „shapes“ of your geos. And set the connection editor up to show the hidden values. Just like I am showing it in the tutorial. Cheers!

[@yomomma5347]

@@LoveVFX hi, im having the same problem. what do you mean by use the 'shape' of your geo? how do i get the node in the connection editor? there's no referenceObject option.

[@LoveVFX]

I have switched to using the Houdini hair system but as I have said in the previous comment: you need to unhide the right settings to connect your geo to the texture reference object. I would say: take a look at Houdinis hair system, use the groombear plugin an make your workflow a lot easier! Cheers!

[@yomomma5347]

@@LoveVFX I was able to select the shape node through the node editor. I'd love to try houdini but im afraid i dont have the software on my machine. thanks for the tutorial. it definitely helped a lot!

[@LoveVFX]

You can install a free learning version of Houdini on your machine ;-)

[@CkilledTQueen]

Love this! Any chance you could do more yeti stuff?

[@LoveVFX]

Could be ;-)

[@gs-ns7gt]

there is no referenceObject at connection editor.

[@LoveVFX]

You need to load it. Just like in the tutorial.

[@olaveiras]

Roll down the page and read the reply I sent to Viktor Sanokulov here. There'll be a solution for that

[@gs-ns7gt]

@@olaveiras Olaf thank you very much for thousand times... I forgot to make right click show shapes on outliner. Now it worked thanks:)

[@sandhyaphatak9003]

Thank you... This is a great tutorial

[@LoveVFX]

My pleasure!

[@bimalbose4644]

thanks alot ;)

[@LoveVFX]

You are welcome! ;-)

[@MxDsigN]

Hi, and thanks a lot for this tutorial. It really helped me to understand the workflow of Yeti better. But I am wondering if there is a way to control the twist of each feather instance (maybe via code in the twist attribute) to be aligned to the surface. Such as in Maya interaqctive groom splines the option face to camera. I think it is done via the tangent vector but I am not able to get that done can you explain how to do this?

[@LoveVFX]

Hi MxDsigN, No I can not tell you how to do that. I am actually looking into using Houdini for my future Hair and CFX work, because I want to explore using Houdini for rendering and scene assembly in the future. Cheers!