8

Boolean Compound Object 333
• Vertex—Outputs the vertices defined by the
spline of the shape.
Display/Update rollout
Display group
Determines whether the shape operands are
displayed.
•
Result—Displays the result of the operation.
•
Oper ands —Displays the operands.
Update group
These options specify when the display is updated.
Typically, you use them when you ’ve animated the
merged shape operands and the viewport display
is slow.
•
Always—Updates t he display at all times.
•
When R ender ing—Updates the display only
when the scene is rendered.
•
Manually—Updates the display only when you
click the Update button.
Update—Updates the display when any option
except Always is chosen.
B ool ea n Compound Obj ect
Select an object. > Create panel > Geometry > Compound
Objects > Object Type rollout > Boolean
Select an object. > C reate menu > Compound > Boolean
A Boolean object combines two other objects by
performing a B oolean operation on them.
Operand A (left); Operand B (right)
These are the Boolean operations for geometr y:
Union—The Boolean object cont ains the volume
of both original objects. The intersecting or
overlapping portion of the geometry is removed.
Intersection—The Bo olean object contains only
the volume that was common to both original
objects (in other words, where they overlapped).
Subtr action (or dif ference)— The Boolean object
contains the volume of one original object with the
intersection volume subtracted from it.
The two original objects are designated as operand
AandB.
Beginning with version 2.5 of 3ds Max, a new
algorithm computes the Boolean operation. This
algorithm produces more predictable results and
less complex geometry than earlier 3D Studio
Booleans. If you open a file that contains a Boolean