8

226 Chapter 5: Creating Geometry
Grid Properties group
The grid constricts profile point insertion and
movement to the plane of the wall and allows you
to snap to grid points on the plane of the wall.
Width—Sets the width of the a ctive grid.
Lengt h—Sets the length of the ac tive grid.
Spacing—Sets the size of the s m allest square in the
active grid.
Stairs
Create panel > Geometr y > Stairs
You can create four different types of stairs in
3ds Max:
Spiral Stair (page 1–230)
Straight Stair (page 1–234)
L-Type Stair (page 1–227)
U-Type Stair (page 1–238)
R ailings and Ma teria ls
By default, 3ds Max assig ns seven different material
IDs to st a irs. The
aectemplates.mat material
library includes
Stair-Template ,a multi/sub-object
material (page 2–1403)
designed to be used with
stairs. Each component of the stair/material is
listed below along with its corresponding Material
ID.
Ma ter ia l I D R a il ing/Mater ial Component
1
Treads of the stairs
2
Front riser of the stairs
3
Bottom, b ack, and sides of the r isers of
the s tairs
4
Center pole of the stairs
Mater ial ID Railing/Mater ial Component
5
Handrails of the stairs
6
Carriage of the stairs
7
Stringers of the stairs
Note: 3ds Max does not automatically assign a
material to the stairs object. To use the included
material, open the librar y and then assign the
material to your object.
Procedure
To create r ailings on stai rs:
1.
Create the stairs. See individual stair-type
topics for more information.
2. In the Gener ate Geometry group, t urn on Rail
Path > Left and Right.
3ds Max places left and right rai l paths above
the stairs.
3. In the Railings rollout, set Height to 0.0.
4. Click Create panel > AEC Extended > Railing
(page 1–212)
to create the first railing.
5. Click Railing rollout > Pick Railing Path and
select one of the rail paths on the stairs.
6. Adjust the railing parameters.
3ds Max remembers the parameters you set.
When you create the next railing, it will have the
same parameters as you set for the first railing.
7. R ight-click to end the creation of the first
railing.
8. Click Railing again to create the second railing.
9. Click Pick Railing Path and select the other rail
path on the stairs.