Create Mapped Model

Grids > Create Mapped Model creates a polygon model with texture, bump, and displacement maps for generating rich, streaming 3D content.

This function saves a significant amount of time when rendering models for 3D web content, gaming, or other visualization purposes for which a NURBS surface is not necessary. Because the grid layout generated during grid con­struction is a strip structure, triangles created from these strips become an ordered mesh that is highly optimized for rendering.

When the conversion takes place, the application turns each of the grid patches into two triangles. The operation can also decimate triangles at the strip level, removing one strip at a time, starting with the strip that contrib­utes least to the general shape of the model. There are two ways to deter­mine the total number of polygons used to create the model: You can either specify the number of triangles in the Target Triangle Count text box, or enter a value in the Reduce to Percentage text box.

The operation includes two Optimize options: Strip Length and Shape Preser­vation. For high-speed rendering, the Strip Length option triangulates the grid rectangles so the triangles can be attached in the longest strips possible. The Shape Preservation option triangulates the grid rectangles while preserv­ing the original shape of the model.

The patch structure generated during patch layout is also well-suited for gen­erating parameterized texture coordinates. If the model has per-vertex color, a texture map can be generated to fit over the grid-based polygonal model. Texture maps preserve the color information even if the grid model is reduced to an extremely low triangle count.

You can also create a displacement map, which contains differential height field information. Displacement maps are often used to make 3D images of terrain because they produce textured surfaces with both 2D and 3D patterns mapped on them.

• Parameter group - (the same controls and indicators as on the Grids > Grids To Polygons dialog)

• Target Triangle Count integer field (not applicable when Two Trian­gles Per Patch is checked) - specifies a target number of triangles in the resulting polygon object.

• Reduce to Percentage decimal field (not applicable when Two Trian­gles Per Patch is checked) - assists in calculating a reduced Target Triangle Count. Enter a percentage less than 100, press Enter, and the Target Triangle Count is reduced to this percentage.

• Object Name text field - specifies the name of the new polygon object.

• Two Triangles Per Patch checkbox - specifies that every patch becomes two triangles (and deactivates the Target Triangle Count and Reduce to Percentage fields).

• Invert Triangle Orientation checkbox - For quick rendering, it is often important to invert the triangle orientation so triangles not seen by the viewer are hidden.

• Optimize group - Pick one.

• Strip Length radio button - For high-speed rendering, this option tri­angulates the grid rectangles so the triangles can be attached in the longest strips possible.

• Shape Preservation radio button - triangulates the grid rectangles while preserving the original shape of the object.

• Map Generation group -

• Enable checkbox - specifies whether to activate the next four check­boxes.

• •   Create Texture Map checkbox -

• Create Bump Map checkbox -

• Create Displacement Map checkbox -

• Preview checkbox (after Apply has been pressed) -

• Displacement Map Range group -

• Minimum Value indicator -

• Maximum Value indicator -

• Number of Maps integer field -

• Map Resolution dropdown (512x512, asdf,asdf,asdf; for Bump Map or Displacement Map) -

• Map File Type dropdown (.tif, .bif, .barf; for Bump Map or Displace­ment Map) - specifies a disk file format.

• Save button - saves the map to a disk file. A filename prompt will pop up.

• OK button - saves Object Name to the Model Manager and closes the dialog.

• Cancel button - terminates the dialog without saving an object.

• Apply button - generates a preview of the map.