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348 Chapter 5: Creating Geometry
As you arrange shapes along the path, 3ds Max
generates a surface be tween the shapes.
You create shape objects to serve as a path for
any number of cross-section shapes. The path
becomes the framework t hat holds the cross
sections forming your object. If you designate
only one shape on the path, 3ds Max assumes an
identical shape is located at each end of the path.
The surface is then gen erated between the shapes.
3ds Max places few restrictions on how
you create a loft object. You can create
cur ved, three-dimensional paths and even
three-dimensional cross sections.
When using Get Shape, as you move the cursor
over an invalid shape, the reason the shape is
invalid is displayed in the prompt line.
Unlike other compound objects, which are created
from the selected object as soon as you click the
compound-objectbutton,aLoftobjectisnot
created until you click Get Shape or Get Path, and
then select a shape or path.
Loft is enabled when the scene has one or more
shapes. To create a loft object, first create one
or more shapes and then click Loft. Click either
Get Shape or Get Path and select a shape in the
viewports.
Once you create a loft object, you can add and
replace cross-section shapes or replace t he path.
You can also change or animate the parameters of
the path and shapes.
You can’t animate the path location of a shape.
Youcanconvertloftobjectsto
NURBS surfaces
(page 1–1117)
.
Pr ocedur es
To cr ea te a l of t obj ect:
Creatingloftobjectsisdetailedandoffersmany
choices, but the basic process is quite simple.
1. Create a shape to be the loft path.
2. Create one or more shapes to be loft cross
sections.
3. Do one of the following:
• Select the path shape and use Get Shape to
addthecrosssectionstotheloft.
• Select a shape and use Get Path to assign
a path to the loft. Use Get Shape to add
additional shapes.
You can use the loft display settings to view the
skin generated by your loft in both wireframe and
shaded views.
To create a loft with Get Path:
1.
Select a shape as the first cross-section shape.
2. Click Create p anel > Geometr y > Compound
Objects > Loft.
3. On the Creation Method rollout, click Get Path.
4. Choose Move, C opy, or Instance.
5. Clickashapeforthepath.
ThecursorchangestotheGetPathcursorasyou
move it over valid p ath shapes. If the cursor does
not change over a shape, that shape is not a valid
path shape and ca nnot be selected. The first vertex
oftheselectedpathisplacedatthefirstshape’s
pivot and the path tangent is aligned with the
shape’s lo cal Z axis .
To create a l of t wit h Get S hape:
1.
Select a valid path shape as the path.
2. Iftheselectedshapeisnotavalidpath,theGet
Shape button is unavailable.
3. Click Create p anel > Geometr y > Compound
Objects > Loft.
4. On the Creation Method rollout, click Get
Shape.
5. Choose Move, C opy, or Instance.