Curves: use uv coordinates to attach curves to mesh

This implements the new way to attach curves to a mesh surface using
a uv map (based on the recent discussion in T95776).

The curves data block now not only stores a reference to the surface object
but also a name of a uv map on that object. Having a uv map is optional
for most operations, but it will be required later for animation (when the
curves are supposed to be deformed based on deformation of the surface).

The "Empty Hair" operator in the Add menu sets the uv map name automatically
if possible. It's possible to start working without a uv map and to attach the
curves to a uv map later on. It's also possible to reattach the curves to a new
uv map using the "Curves > Snap to Nearest Surface" operator in curves sculpt
mode.

Note, the implementation to do the reverse lookup from uv to a position on the
surface is trivial and inefficient now. A more efficient data structure will be
implemented separately soon.

Differential Revision: https://developer.blender.org/D15125

1 files changed, 3 insertions, 15 deletions

diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_curves.hh b/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_curves.hh
index 168b17bad30..dc67f1e7403 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_curves.hh
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_curves.hh
@@ -264,22 +264,10 @@ class CurvesGeometry : public ::CurvesGeometry {
   MutableSpan<float> nurbs_weights_for_write();
 
   /**
-   * The index of a triangle (#MLoopTri) that a curve is attached to.
-   * The index is -1, if the curve is not attached.
+   * UV coordinate for each curve that encodes where the curve is attached to the surface mesh.
    */
-  VArray<int> surface_triangle_indices() const;
-  MutableSpan<int> surface_triangle_indices_for_write();
-
-  /**
-   * Barycentric coordinates of the attachment point within a triangle.
-   * Only the first two coordinates are stored. The third coordinate can be derived because the sum
-   * of the three coordinates is 1.
-   *
-   * When the triangle index is -1, this coordinate should be ignored.
-   * The span can be empty, when all triangle indices are -1.
-   */
-  Span<float2> surface_triangle_coords() const;
-  MutableSpan<float2> surface_triangle_coords_for_write();
+  Span<float2> surface_uv_coords() const;
+  MutableSpan<float2> surface_uv_coords_for_write();
 
   VArray<float> selection_point_float() const;
   MutableSpan<float> selection_point_float_for_write();