Using Editable Spline and Poly Tools

Set up for this lesson:

1. Choose File menu > Open and browse to the tutorials\new_modeling folder. Open the file tut_powercharger_start.max.

   This file shows a picture of a power charger design in the Right viewport. You will use this image as a reference while modeling.

   

2. Choose Create panel > Shapes > Rectangle.

3. In the Top viewport, create a rectangle with a Length of 140 and a Width of 90.

4. In the Right viewport, move the rectangle so it aligns with the bottom of the reference picture.

5. In the Modify panel, right-click the Rectangle listing, and choose Convert To Editable Spline.

   This makes the Editable Spline parameters available.

Use Copy Connect to create a spline cage:

1. On the Selection rollout, click Spline to access the Spline sub-object level.

2. Click the rectangular spline to select it. The spline turns red to indicate it is selected.

3. In the Geometry rollout > Connect Copy group, turn on Connect.

4. In the Right viewport, hold down Shift while moving the rectangle upward. Move the rectangle by about 20 units.

   Tip: Watch the Z coordinate display on the status bar to determine the number of units you have moved the object.

   This action creates a new spline above the original, and connecting lines between the two rectangles form a box-shaped spline cage. You can see this cage most clearly in the Perspective viewport.

   

5. Hold down Shift again, and move the rectangle up by about 2 units.

6. In the Selection rollout, click Vertex.

7. In the Right viewport, move vertices to match the reference picture.

   

8. Use the Spline sub-object and Copy Connect to make additional rectangles from the topmost one, and adjust vertices to make the object's cage match the reference picture.

   

   Note: If segments curve or bend at odd angles, select all the vertices, right-click, and choose Corner from the quad menu. This will change all vertices to the Corner type, and remove curves from the spline cage.

9. Apply the Surface modifier to the spline cage. Turn on Flip Normals if necessary, and turn on Remove Interior Patches.

   This puts a surface over the spline cage, forming a 3D object.

   

10. Save the scene as my_powercharger_surface.max.

    You can find a finished version of this scene in the file tut_powercharger_surface.max.

Create an editable poly:

You can create the same object using the new Extrude and Bevel dialogs, available for Editable Poly objects.

1. Load the file tut_powercharger_start.max again.

2. Choose Create panel > Shapes > Rectangle. In the Top viewport, create a rectangle with a Length of 140 and a Width of 90.

3. Apply the Extrude modifier to the rectangle, and set Amount to 20.

4. In the Modify panel, right-click the extruded rectangle, and choose Collapse All. If a dialog appears asking you to confirm that you want to continue, click Yes.

   This converts the object to an Editable Mesh.

5. Right-click the Editable Mesh listing in the Modify panel, and choose Convert to Editable Poly.

   This causes the Editable Poly options to become available.

Use Extrude and Bevel dialogs:

1. In the Selection rollout, click Polygon.

2. In the Perspective viewport, select the polygon at the top of the object.

   

3. In the Edit Polygons rollout, click the Settings button next to Bevel.

   This displays the Bevel Polygons dialog.

4. Change Height to about 2, and Outline Amount to about -5.

5. Click Apply.

   This sets the bevel, and displays the next bevel for the same Height and Outline Amount.

6. Set Height to 9, and Outline Amount to -3. Click Apply.

   

7. Continue to extrude and bevel the polygon to match the left side of the reference picture.

   

   In the Perspective viewport, you can see that the object created with the Bevel option is quite different from the one created with the spline cage and the Surface modifier.

Adjust the bevels:

1. In the Selection rollout, click Vertex.

2. In the Right viewport, adjust vertices to match the reference picture.

   Tip: It can be easier to shape the object if you make it see-through. To do this, right-click the base and choose Properties from the quad menu. In the Object Properties dialog > Display Properties group, click By Layer to change to By Object, and turn on See-Through. Click OK to close the dialog.

3. In the Front viewport, move the vertices at the top of the base to straighten them out, if necessary.

   

4. Save the scene as my_powercharger_bevel.max.

   You can find a finished version of this scene in the file tut_powercharger_bevel.max.