8

324 Chapter 5: Creating Geometry
Vertex colors, on the other hand, interpolate
smoothly.
Notes:
• You can use Connect on objects that have
multiple sets of holes. Connect will do its best
to match up the holes between the two objects.
• The mapping co ordinates assigned to the
origina l two objects are maintained to the
extent possible. You might find irregularities in
the bridged area, depending on the complexity
and difference b etween the two original sets
of mapping coordinates and the types of
geometry.
Pr ocedur es
To cr e a t e a Conne ct ob ject :
1.
Create two mesh objects.
2. Delete faces on each to create holes w here you
want to bridge the objects.
Position the objects so that the normals of
the deleted faces of one object point toward
the normals of the deleted faces of the other
object (assuming that deleted faces could have
normals).
3. Selectoneoftheobjects.OntheCreatepanel>
Geometry > Compound Object Type rollout,
click Connect.
4. Click t he Pick Operand button, and then select
the other object.
5. Faces a re generated connecting the holes in the
two objects.
6. Adjust the connection with t he various options.
Ex ample: To connect t wo cy linder s:
1.
Create a cy linder w ith a radius of 15 and a
height of 30. Use the default settings for the
remaining parameters.
2. Create a second cylinder centered on the first
w ith a r adius of 30, a heig ht of 30, and 13 sides.
(Thefewersidesaretodemonstratethemesh
interpolation in the connection.)
3. Move the first, narrower c y linder straight up
alongZsoitsbottomcapisabout15units
abovethetopcapofthelargercylinder.
4. Convert both cylinders to editable meshes.
5. Delete the lower cap of the upper cylinder, and
the upper cap of the bottom cylinder. (Hint: Go
to Editable Mesh (Polygon ) mode, select each
endinturn,andthenpresstheDELETEkey.)
6. Exit sub-object mode, select the lower cylinder,
and click Connect.
7. Click the Pick Operand button, and then click
the upper cylinder.
New faces are c reated that span the openings in
the two cy linders.
Ex ample continued: To tr y out s ome options a nd
create animation:
1.
Go to the Modify panel and increase the
Segments spinner to 5 or more.
As the segments increase, the connection
becomes cur ved.
2. Set the Tension spinner to 0 to straighten the
connecting surface, increase it to 1, and then
return it to 0.5.
3. Try different combinations of the Bridge and
Ends options.
4. Select the upper cylinder, tur n on the Auto
Keybutton,andapplyvarioustransformsat
different frames.
5. Pla y the animation.