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310 Chapter 5: Creating Geometry
want to attach to the current editable spline, then
click OK.
Cr o s s Se c t ion—Creates a spline cage out of
cross–sectional shapes. Click Cross Sec tion,
select one shape then a second shape, splines are
created joining the first shape with the second.
Continue clicking shapes to add them to the cage.
This functionality is similar to the Cross Section
modifier, but here you can determine the order
of the cross sections. Spline cage tangency can be
defined in the New Vertex Type group.
Tip: When you edit t he spline cage, use Area
Selection before selecting your vertices. This will
keep their positions together as you transform
them.
Connect Copy group
Connect Copy—When on, Shif t +Cloning a spline
creates a new spline sub-object with additional
splines that connect the new spline’s vertices to the
vertices of the original segment. It is analogous
to
Shi f t +Cloning edges in Editable Mesh and
Editable Poly objects.
Note: For Connect Copy to work, you must turn it
on before you
Shif t +Clone.
Threshold—Determines the distance s oft selection
uses w hen Connect Copy is on. A higher value
results in more splines be ing created, a lower value
results in fewer splines.
End Point Auto-Welding group
Automatic Welding—When Automatic Welding is
turnedon,anendpointvertexthatisplacedor
moved within the threshold distance of another
endpoint of the same spline is automatically
welded. This feature is available at the object and
all sub-object levels.
Threshold—Aproximitysettingthatcontrolshow
close vertices can be to one another before they are
automatically welded. Default=6.0.
Insert—Inserts one or more vertices, creating
additional segments. C lick anywhere in a seg ment
to insert a vertex and attach the mouse to the
spline. Then optionally move the mouse and
click to place the new vertex. Continue moving
the mouse and clicking to add vertices. A single
click inserts a corner vertex, while a drag creates a
Bezier (smo oth) vertex.
Right-click to complete the operation and release
the mouse. At this point, you’re still in Insert
mode, and can begin inserting vert ices in a
different segment. Otherwise, r ight-click again or
click Insert to exit Insert mode.
Reverse—Reverses the direction of the selected
spline. If the spline is open, the first vertex wil l
be switched to the opposite end of the spline.
Reversing the direction of a spline is usually done
in order to reverse the effect of using the Insert
tool at vertex selection level.
Original and reversed splines
Outline—Makes a copy of the spline, offset on
allsidestothedistancespecifiedbytheOutline
Width spinner (to the right of the Outline button).