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CHAPTER 1 GettinG to Know 3ds Max desiGn 2010
In step 6, you selected the Copy option in the Clone Options dialog box. This option creates a
distinct copy of the original object. The other two options, Instance and Reference, create clones
that are related to the original, in such a way that changes in one object affect the other. You’ll
learn more about these options in Chapter 2, “Introducing 3ds Max Objects.”
Parking Curbs and Bollards
Every project has features in it that vary from interesting and cool to mundane and repetitive.
Although we all like to work on the exciting projects, we will all do our share of the latter. When
those less-than-exciting projects pop up, it’s best to crank them out quickly and accurately and then
move on to the next portfolio-quality project down the line.
While the main effort of our company was being applied to the creation of a mall, complete with an
entertainment center and several freestanding buildings for restaurants and other shops, someone
had to work on the parking lot. I was hired to accurately place several thousand parking curbs and
bollards (vertical posts used to restrict vehicular traffic) throughout the parking lot and around the
entrances to the structure. Parking curbs are usually identical and placed equidistant from each
other (usually 9´0˝), so the layout wasn’t difficult. After modeling the simple curb, I placed one at
the end of each parallel run of parking spaces. I selected the first curb on each run, held the Shift
key down, and moved it 9´ in the proper direction. In the Clone Options dialog box, I set Number of
Copies to the number of curbs in the longest run and then deleted any superfluous curbs.
This process was repeated several times for the remaining curbs, and then a similar process was
used to place the bollards. Upon receiving the completed work, the company assigned me the task
of creating the traffic islands and the screen walls around the service areas. I’m sure one of these
days they’ll give me a fun job to do.
Selecting Multiple Objects
You’ve now learned how to select, move, and copy a single object, but what do you do if you
want to move or copy several objects at once? You can select multiple objects, or create selection
sets as they are called in 3ds Max, using two methods. The first is one that is also employed in
other graphics programs.
1. Click the Select Object tool on the main toolbar.
2. Click on a blank area of the viewport to clear any selections you may already have, or
click Ctrl+D on the keyboard.
3. Click and hold your cursor at a point below and to the left of the chair copy. Then drag
to the right and up. Notice that a dotted rectangle follows your cursor, as shown in
Figure 1.33.
4. Continue to drag the cursor up and to the right until it encloses both chairs. Then release
the mouse button. Both chairs are selected.
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