8

1256 Chapter 9: Sur face Modeling
Pr ocedur es
To set up an object for the Level Of Detail utilit y:
1.
Create two or more objects that are identical
except for their complexity.
Note: It’s best to assign materials and mapping
coordinates, as well as all modifiers while the
objects are still separate.
2. Select all of the objects, and use the Align tool
to center a l l of them about a common center.
3. Group the objects.
4. Choose the Level Of Detail utility.
5. While the grouped object is selected, click the
Create New Set button.
Thenameoftheobjectswithinthegroup
appear in the Level Of D etai l list, in order of
complexity; only the least complex object in the
group is displayed in the viewports, while all
otherobjectsaremadeinvisible.
6. UsethecontrolsintheLevelOfDetailrolloutto
adjust when the objects will switch their display
in the rendered scene.
To access an object’s stack:
1.
Select the Level Of Detail object, and then
choose Group menu > Open.
2. In the Level Of Detail utility, choose the object
you want to access from the list window,
andthenturnonDisplayInViewports(or
double-click the object’s name in the list
window).
3. Select the object in the viewport.
4. Open the Modify panel to access that object’s
parameters.
5. When finished, choose Group menu > Close.
To assign materials within the group:
1.
Select the g rouped object.
2. Use Display In Viewports in the Level Of Detai l
utility to display the grouped object you want
to assign the material to.
3. Drag the material from the Mat erial Editor (or
the Browser) over to the object in the view port.
4. Choose Assign To Objec t in the Assign Material
alert, and then click OK.
Note: Be sure and choose Assign To Object. If
you choose the default Assign To Selection, a ll
objectsinthegroupwillbeassignedthesame
material.
To dismantle a Level Of Detail object:
IfyoulookataLevelOfDetailobjectinTrack
View, you’ll see only the t r acks for the sub-object
that’s currently d isplayed in the viewports. To see
all sub-objects in Track View, you need to turn off
Visible Objects.
If you need to dismantle a grouped Level Of
Detail object, and restore its sub-objects to their
independent states, follow these steps:
1. Open the Filters dialog in Track View, and turn
off Visible Objects in the Show Only group box.
2. Thetracksforallofthesub-objectsintheLevel
Of Detail object are now v isible.
3. Open the hierarchy of each of the sub-objects,
and t hen select each of their Visibility tracks.
4. On the Track View toolbar, click the Delete
Cont roller button.
5. If you also want to remove the grouping, selec t
the grouped objects, and then choose Explode
in the Group menu.