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206 Chapter 5: Creating Geometry
4.
Make parameter adjustments to define details.
The width and orientation of the door/window
is always defined by the first mouse click and
subsequent mouse drag. Depending on the
creation method you use, either the height or
depth of the object is defined next.
Ifyouhavenoobjectsnapssetandareworking
in a Perspective or User Viewport, using
the Width/Depth/Height Creation Method
creates an upright Door or W indow. The
Width/Height/Depth Creation Method creates the
object as if it were lying on its side.
Allowing Non-vertical Jambs
TheAllowNon-verticalJambstoggleisuseful
for creating doors or windows that do not fit in
a vertical plane, such as a skylight window in a
sloping roof. By default, this tog gle is off, making
the third point in the creation sequence either
directly above ( Width/Height/Depth) or on the
same horizontal plane ( Width/Depth/Height)
w ith the second point.
WhenyouturnonAllowNon-verticalJambs,the
third point in the creation sequence fa lls w herever
youchooseandthefourthpointisaddedbythe
program. Its offset f rom the plane is determined
by the first three points.
Using the Width/Height/Depth Creation Method
in Perspective and User viewports with Al low
Non-ver tical Jambs off can be a n efficient way
to create doors and windows with Object Snaps.
However, it can also be confusing at first. Keep in
mind that the third point you define, the Height,
is interpreted as a point on the home g rid until
you indicate a point higher or lower than the g rid.
If you are using an Object Snap sett ing, 3ds Max
mightnotknowyoumeanapointoffthegrid
unless you br ing the cursor in proximity to a
nonplanar point to which it can snap.
Additional Parameters
There are additional parameters specific to
each door and window type that control overall
dimension parameters, as well as detailed
parameters for sub-object components such as
mullions, t rim, and panels within leaves. See
Doors (page 1–241) and Windows (page 1–248)
for more information on these parameters.
Animating Doors and Windows
Certain door and window creation parameters,
including the Open parameter, can be animated.
See
Doors (page 1–241) and Windows (page
1–248)
for more information.
Creating Stairs and R ailings
3ds Max contains four ty pes of stair objects: spiral
stairs (page 1–230)
, U-type stairs (page 1–238)
with an intermediate landing, L-type stairs (page
1–227)
w ith a landing at the bend in the stair, and
straight stairs (page 1–234) with no intermediate
landing. A complementary Railing object can b e
used to create any number of handrail designs that
follow along a spline path.
For more information, see
Stairs (page 1–226) .
The Railing Objec t
UsetheRailingbuttonontheCreatepanelinthe
to produce r ailing objects. Railing components
include rails,
AEC Extended category (p age
1–205)
posts, and fencing. Fencing includes pickets
(balusters) or solid-filled material (such as glass or
wood strips).
You can create a railing in two ways: specify the
orientation and height of the railing, or pick a
spline path and apply the railing to that path.
Thesplinepathwitharailingiscalledarailpath.
Later, if you ed it the rail path, the Rai ling object
automatically updates to follow the changes you