2012

Table Of Contents
you specify. Although you can continue to create legacy polygonal and
polyface meshes, it is recommended that you convert to the enhanced
mesh object type to obtain enhanced editing capabilities.
About Tessellation
Tessellation is a collection of planar shapes that tile a mesh object. The
tessellation divisions, visible in unselected mesh objects, mark the edges of
the editable mesh faces. (To see these divisions in the Hidden or Conceptual
visual styles, VSEDGES must be set to 1.)
When you smooth and refine mesh objects, you increase the density of the
tessellation (the number of subdivisions).
Smoothing. Increases how closely the mesh surface adheres to a rounded
form. You can increase mesh smoothness levels for selected objects in
increments or by changing the smoothness level in the Properties palette.
Smoothness level 0 (zero) applies the lowest level of smoothing to a mesh
object. Smoothness level 4 applies a high degree of smoothness.
Refinement. Quadruples the number of subdivisions in a selected mesh
object or in a selected subobject, such as a face. Refinement also resets the
current smoothness level to 0, so that the object can no longer be sharpened
beyond that level. Because refinement greatly increases the density of a
mesh, you might want to restrict this option to areas that require finely
detailed modification. Refinement also helps you mold smaller sections
with less effect on the overall shape of the model.
1112 | Chapter 24 Create 3D Models