Bias handles vs control points

[mouseman]

I remember a discussion recently about using bias handles; I think this post (Straighten a spline ring) was part of what I was thinking, but I vaguely remember there being more discussion on bias handles recently.

 

Anyways, I'm starting to come to the conclusion that if I'm making a lot of bias handle changes, especially involving increase of the magnitude, the real problem is that I don't have enough geometry (splines and CPs) to support the structure that the model needs. For example, if I have rings of 4-CPs on the arms and am changing the bias handles to make them the right shape, I probably need 6- or 8-CP spline rings for the arm.

 

Would you agree or disagree with that?

[itsjustme]

Anyways, I'm starting to come to the conclusion that if I'm making a lot of bias handle changes, especially involving increase of the magnitude, the real problem is that I don't have enough geometry (splines and CPs) to support the structure that the model needs. For example, if I have rings of 4-CPs on the arms and am changing the bias handles to make them the right shape, I probably need 6- or 8-CP spline rings for the arm.

 

Would you agree or disagree with that?

 

I would agree. For arms, legs, fingers, etc I tend to use eight CP rings.

[robcat2075]

If I'm making something with a lot of rings like a finger or a leg I like to start with a lathed shape. A:M will automatically set the bias magnitude for smooth circles with any number of CPs.

[mouseman]

Thanks, David & Robert. A little more slogging through search results revealed this post by Caroline on bias handles, with a lot of great information (most of it from the two of you!).