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300 Chapter 5: Creating Geometry
splines are created joining the first shape with the
second. Continue clicking segments to add them
tothecage.Allsegmentsmustbepartofthesame
object to build cross sections. This functionality
is similar to the Cross S ection modifier, but here
you can determine the order of the cross sections.
Spline cage tangency can be defined by choosing
Linear, Bezier, Bezier Corner or Smooth in New
Ve r t e x Ty p e g r o u p.
Tip: When you want to move these vert ices, tur n
on Area Selection before you select them. When
you transform them, the vertices will stay together.
Refine group
The Refine group includes a number of functions
useful for building spline networks for use with the
Surface modifier (page 1–833) .
Refine—Lets you add vertices without altering the
curvature values of the spline. Click Refine, a nd
then selec t any number of spline segments to add
a vertex each time you click (the mouse cursor
changes to a "connect" symbol when over an
eligible segment). To finish adding vertices, click
Refine again, or right-click in the viewport .
Youcanalsoclickexistingverticesduringarefine
operation, in which case 3ds Max displays a dialog
asking if you want to Re fin e or Connect to the
vertex. If you choose Connect, 3ds Max will not
create a vertex: it simply connects to the existing
vertex.
The Refine operation creates a different type of
vertexdependingonthetypesofverticesonthe
endpoints of the segment being refined.
• If the bordering vertices are both Smooth types,
theRefineoperationcreatesaSmoothtype
vertex.
• If the bordering vertices are b oth Corner types,
theRefineoperationcreatesaCornertype
vertex.
• If either of the bordering vertices is a C orner
or Bezier Corner, the Refine operation creates
aBezierCornertype.
• Otherwise, the operation creates a Bezier type
vertex.
Co nnect—When on, creates a n ew spline
sub-object by connecting the new vertices. When
you finish adding vert ices with Refine, Connect
mak es a separate copy of each new vertex and then
connects a l l of the copies with a new spline.
Note: For Connect to work, you must turn it on
before you click Refine.
After turning on Connect and before beg inning
the refinement process, turn on any combination
of these options:
•
Linear—When on, makes all segments in the
new spline linear by using Corner vertices.
When Linear is off, the vert ices used to create
the new s pline are of the Smooth type.
•
Bind First—Causes the first vertex created in a
refinement operation to be b ound to the center
of the selected segment.
For more information, see
Bound Ver tex (page
3–1013)
.
•
Clo sed —When on, connects the first and last
vertices in the new spline to create a closed
spline. When Closed is off, Connect always
createsanopenspline.
•
Bind Last—Causes the last vertex created in a
refinement operation to be b ound to the center
of the selected segment.
For more information, see
Bound Ver tex (page
3–1013)
.