8

150 Chapter 5: Creating Geometry
Creating an Object (page 1–152)
Using the Modify Panel (page 1–485)
Using the Modifier Stack (page 1–487)
Editing t he Stack (page 1–489)
Modif ying at the Sub-Object Level (page 1–492)
Using the Stack at the Sub-Object Level (page
1–493)
Modif ying Multiple Objects (page 1–495)
How Instanced Modifiers Work (p age 1–496)
Transforms, Modifiers, and Object Data Flow
(page 1–480)
Usi ng the Crea te Panel
TheCreatepanelprovidesthecontrolsforcreating
objects and adjusting their parameters.
ToaccesstheCreatepanel:
1.
Click the Create tab in the command
panels (page 3–799)
.
By default, this panel is open when you start
the program. If the command panel isn’t
visible, choose it from the
Customize Display
rig ht-click menu (page 3–831)
.
2. Click an object type to display its Parameters
rollout.
The Creation Process
The actual creation of objects is accomplished
with a single click of the mouse, a drag, or some
combinat ion, depending on the object type. This
is the general sequence:
•Chooseanobjecttype.
• Clickordraginaviewporttocreateanobject
of approximate size and location.
• Adjust the object’s parameters and position,
either immediately or later.
See
Creating an Object (page 1–152) .
Crea te Panel I nterfa ce
Controls in the Create panel vary depending on
thekindofobjectyouarecreating. However,
certain controls are always present, and others are
shared by nearly all object types.
Category —Buttons at the top of the panel access
the seven main categories of objects. Geometry
is the default category.
Subcategor y—A list lets you select subcategories.
For example, subcategories under Geometry
include Standard Primitives, Extended Primitives,
Compound Objects, Particle Systems, Patch Grids,
NURBS Surfaces, and Dynamics Objects.
Each subcategory contains one or more object
types. If you’ve insta l led plug-in components for
additional object types, these might be grouped
as a single subcategory.
Object Type—A rollout contains labeled buttons
for creating objects in a particular subcategory,
plus the
AutoGrid (page 2–7) check box.
Name a nd Color —TheNameshowsthe
automatically assigned name of the object. You
can edit this n ame or replace it with another.
(Different objects can have the same name, though
this is not recommended.) Clicking the s quare
color swat ch brings up an
Object Color dialog
(page 1–155)
to change the color of the object as it
appears in viewports (the wireframe color).
Creation M ethod—This rollout provides a choice of
howyouusethemousetocreateanobject. For
example, you c an use either the center (radius) or
edge (diameter) to define the size of a Circle shape.
A default creation method is always selected
when you a ccess the tool. If you want to use an
alternate method, choose the option before you