8

Preserve Modifier 757
Selection Info
A t the bottom of the Parameters rollout for Mesh
Select is a text display giving you information
about the current selection. If 0 or more than one
sub-object is selected, the text gives the number
and type selected. If one sub-object is selected, the
text gives the ID number and type of the selected
item.
Note: When the cur rent sub-object type is Element,
selectioninformationisgiveninpolygonsWhen
the current sub-object type is Border, selection
information is given in edges.
Soft S ele ction rollout
Soft Selection controls affect the action of
sub-object Move, Rotate, and Scale functions.
When these are on, 3ds Max applies a spline curve
deformation to unselected vertices surrounding
the transformed selected sub-object. This provides
a magnet-like effect with a sphere of influence
around the transformation.
For more information, see
Soft Selection Rollout
(page 1–945)
.
Pr es er v e M odi fi er
Modify panel > Make a selection. > Modifier List >
Object-Space Modifiers > Preserve
Make a selection. > Modifiers menu > Parametric
Deformers > Preserve
The Preserve modifier lets you retain, as much as
possible,theedgelengths,faceangles,andvolume
of an edited and deformed mesh object using
an unmodified copy of the object before it was
deformed. When you push and pull vertices at the
sub-object level, the process typical ly st retches the
edges and often alters the face angles, resulting
in irregular topology. You can use the Preserve
modifier to generate more regular edge lengths,
and a "cleaner" mesh.
Procedures
Using the Pr eserv e modi fier :
1.
Create an object. Before you edit it, create a
copy.
2. E d it the copy at the sub-object level, pushing
and pulling vert ices, faces, and so on.
3. Apply the Preserve mo difier to the copy, click
the Pick Original button, and then select the
original, unmodified object.
4. Adjust controls in the Preserve modifier to
fine-tune the mesh.
Ex ample: Use the Pr eser v e modi fi er on a geospher e:
1.
Create a GeoSphere (page 1–171) and use
SHIFT+Move to make a copy of it.
Tip: If you want to see the effect of Preser ve on
mapping, apply a checker-mapped material to
thesphereanddisplayitintheviewportsbefore
making the copy.
2. Convert the copy to an editable mesh (p age
1–984)
.
3. At the Vertex sub-object level, select a third of
the vertices at the top of the sphere, and move
them upward (as seen from the front) about
one radius in distance.
Notice the stretched edges between the moved
vertices and the remaining vertices.
4. While still at the Vertex sub-object level, apply
thePreservemodifier.
5. Click the Pick Or iginal button, and then select
the orig ina l (unedited) sphere.
The selected vertices move back toward the
sphere in an attempt to m aintain the orig ina l
volume and edge lengths.
6. Tu r n on Inver t Selec t ion.
The selected ver tices return to their moved
position, and the unselected vertices (the