8
Snap Settings 39
Snapsworkatsub-objectlevels.Forexample,you
can use snaps to position a g izmo to the object on
which you’re working, or snap it to other objects
in the scene.
You must activate a viewport in order to use snaps.
Also, the Z-axis constraints don’t apply to the
home grid or grid objects, since grids don’t have
aZaxis.
Settings are stored in the
3dsmax.ini
file. The
state of the snap settings persists from session to
session. (Prior to version 3, snap settings were
stored in t he
maxstart.max
file.)
Snaps and Axis Constrai nts
Snaps take precedence over axis constraints. If you
highlig ht an axis constraint, such as Restric t to X,
you can move the object only in X. But if you then
turn on snaps, Restr ict to X is suspended and not
used.
The Sna ps Tool bar
The most common Snaps settings are available
from an optional toolbar. To toggle display of
the Snaps toolbar, rig ht-click an empty area of
the main toolbar, such a s the section under the
ReferenceCoordinateSystemdrop-down,and
chooseSnaps.Thetoolbarbuttonsareshownnext
to the relevant commands, below and in the
Snap
Options topic (page 2–43)
.
The same settings are also available from the snap
quad menu, available by pressing SHIFT+right
mouse button.
Snaps: Relative and Absolute
3ds Max offers two different types of snap
behavior. You c a n use snaps to move a selec tion
to a snap p oint, an absolute snap. You can also
usesnapstomoveaselectionarelativedistance
fromasnappoint.Thisiscalledarelativesnap.
For further information, see
Touserelativesnaps:
(page 2–39)
.
Procedures
To set gr id a nd snap settings:
1.
Turn on the 3D Snap Togg le button to activate
snaps.
2. Choose Customize > Grid And Snap Settings
to display the Grid and Snap Settings dia log.
3. IntheSnapstab,selectoneormoreofthetypes
of snaps y ou want active.
4. Create an object or transform an object.
Snap markers appear when the mouse cursor is
over existing geometry or on a grid, depending
on the active snap types. Each snap type
has a different display; clicking when the
snap-specific display is visible snaps to that
spot.
To di splay the Sna ps shor tcut menu:
• H old SHIFT and right-click anywhere in any
viewport. The Snap quadrant in the quad menu
that appears gives you access to Transform
Constr aints, Snap To Frozen, and snap settings.
Touseabsolutesnaps:
• Click the object with Snaps on.
To use relative snaps:
1.
Lock the selection set.
2. Click in the viewpor t.
Thedistancefromyourcursortotheselection
set is used as the relative snap distance. The
object snaps that relative distance away from
the snap point.