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Make Loft Dialog 1235
ZIP tab
This tab chooses the zip algorithm. Zipping
concatenates the CV lattices of the two original
surfaces. Zipping can change the shape of the
original surfaces, but comp ared to joining it
usually produces a simpler surface that is easier
to edit.
By default, the ZIP tab is active.
If both curves are untrimmed point surfaces, the
result of zipping is a point surface. In all other
cases, the result is a CV sur face.
Tolerance—Adistancein3dsMaxunits. Ifthe
edges of the two original surfaces are closer than
this distance, zipping deletes one ro w (or column)
of the points or CVs in order to avoid creating a
coincident point or CV row (or column) in the
new zipped surface.
Tension 1—(Disabled.)
Tension 2—(Disabled.)
Join tab
This tab chooses the join algorithm. (This method
was the only way to join surfaces in 3ds Max prior
to v3.) Joining first c reates a blend surface between
the two original surfaces, and then makes all three
into a sing le surface. Joining does not change the
shape of the two original surfaces.
If both surfaces are point surfaces, the result is
a point surface. If one or both surfaces are CV
surfaces, the result is a CV surface.
Tolerance—Adistancein3dsMaxunits.Ifthegap
between the surfaces you are joining is g reater
than this value, the join is created by first creating
a blend surface and then joining the three parts.
If the gap is less than this value, or if the surfaces
are overlapping or coincident, the sof tware doesn’t
create the blend.
Creating a blend and then joining the three
surfaces into a single surface is the better
technique. The result matches the parent surfaces
well. Without the blend step, the resulting surface
can deviate from the parent surfaces, in order to
maintain smoothness. (The amount of deviation
depends on how far from tangent the two input
surfaces were at the join.)
A problem arises when the gap is too small. In this
case, the software generates the blend but because
there isn’t enough room for it, the resulting surface
has a loop. To avoid having this loop, set the
Tolerance higher than the gap distance.
Ifyousetthetoleranceto0.0,thesoftwarechooses
avaluetousefortheTolerance.
Tension 1—Adjusts the tension of the new surface
at the edge of the first surface you picked.
Tension 2—Adjusts the tension of the new surface
attheendofthesecondsurfaceyoupicked.
Prev iew—When on, the effect of the zip or join is
previewed in viewports. Default=on.
Mak e Loft Dialog
Modify panel > Select NURBS surface sub-object. >
Sur face Common rollout > M ake Loft button
This dialog converts a surface sub-object to a
(dependent) U loft or UV loft surface. You can
also change the dimension used to construct a U
loft surface.