Merge Operator
The Merge operator combines two or more hair or guide objects into a single object. It is useful when parts of a groom are generated and styled separately - for example a character's body fur and head hair built on the same surface - and you want them to become one groom without losing the separate creation history of each.
How merging works
Add the Merge operator at the point in the stack where you want the inputs to come together, and provide the objects to merge. From that point up, the groom is the combined result. Operators placed below the merge still affect only their own input; operators above it act on the merged whole.
Same distribution surface
Merging assumes that all of the inputs were planted on the same distribution surface. Keeping the inputs on a shared surface ensures their roots and surface data line up, so the merged groom behaves consistently.
Keeping parts distinct
If you want to continue treating the merged inputs as separate parts - to style each differently after merging - assign them different strand groups before or after the merge, then target those groups with later operators.
Related
- Working with Strand Groups - keep merged parts addressable.
- Groom Operator - encapsulate a sub-groom as a single unit.