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MultiRes Modifier 731
channels. The status window displays how many
channels were moved.
Approx imate Memory Usage—Displays an
approximation of the current memory usage.
MultiRes Modifier
Select an object. > Modify panel > Modifiers List >
Object–Space Modifiers > MultiRes
Make a selection. > Modifiers menu > Mesh Editing >
MultiRes
The MultiRes modifier reduces the memory
overhead needed to render models by decreasing
the number of vertices and polygons. This is useful
not only within 3ds Max but for game and Web
content creators who export models for use outside
oftheprogram.MultiResoffersseveraladvantages
over the Optimize modifier, including faster
operation and the ability to specify reduction as an
exact percentage or vertex count.
The MultiRes modifier now supports the
preservation of map channels when face count is
increased or reduced.
Left: Original model
Center and right: Model progressively simplified by the
MultiRes modifier
Modeling Tips for MultiRes
The MultiRes multi-resolut ion mesh algorithms
are designed to be general-purpose, and yield
high-quality meshes on a wide variety of model
types. However, careful modeling can improve
the results of the algorithm. The following are
suggestions to yield high-quality multi-resolution
meshes:
• Avoid using complex model hierarchies with
MultiRes. For such models you should generate
an individual multi-resolut ion mesh for each
model component, or collapse the entire model
into a single mesh. In general, single-skin
meshes work best with animation engines like
Physique in character studio.MultiResworks
especially well with single-skin meshes.
• Avoid duplicating vertices. The presence of
extraverticesisanoften-overlookedartifactof
some modeling techniques. T he Weld function
in the
Edit Mesh modifier (page 1–613) and
Editable Poly (page 1–1012) is useful for
cleaning these up.
• Beconservativewithtextureandnormal
discontinuities. For example, an artist might
associate multiple texture coordinates with a
single ver tex. MultiRes will seek to preserve
this discontinuity and the border between the
two texture mappings, but it might do so at the
expense of model shape.
• Create high-resolution models.
High-resolution models provide M ultiRes with
more faces and vertices that describe the shape
of the model. T he more initial informat ion
MultiRes has about t he s hape of the model, the
better the decisions it makes in generating a
final multi-resolution mesh.
Procedures
To use the MultiRes modifier:
1.
Select a model and apply the MultiRes modifier.