Patches > Patch Template > Edit (applies to a Patch Template Object, as created by Patches > Patch Template > Convert To, that is selected in the Model Manager) - alters the patch template by moving the patches into a layout that is appropriate for the several objects to which it will be applied.
Picture the patch template as a wire fish net. You will edit the template by dragging points in various directions, which is like stretching and shrinking certain wires of the fish net. The resulting template will resemble the original, and probably doesn’t fit every future object perfectly, but represents a generalized patch layout that can be "snapped" to the surface of objects to which it is applied.
Before you edit the patch template, it is important to align it to the model. Both the template and the model must be selected from the Model Manager and visible in the viewing area. Working with patch templates requires that you know how to work with multiple models.
Direction group - specifies the constraint that will be applied to any point of the patch structure that you click and drag. These controls help translate the two-dimensional movements of a mouse into three-dimensional movements of the patch template.
Left/Right radio button - the point can be dragged left and right in the Viewing Area.
Up/Down radio button - the point can be dragged up and down in the Viewing Area.
In/Out radio button - the point can be dragged further from and closer to the user’s face.
Left/Right, Up/Down radio button - the point can be dragged left, right, up, and down, but not further from or closer to the user’s face.
Left/Right, In/Out radio button - the point can be dragged left, right, further from or closer to the user’s face, but not up or down.
Up/Down, In/Out radio button - the point can be dragged up, down, further from and closer to the user’s face, but not left or right.
To Model radio button - the point can be dragged to a surface location only.
Range decimal field (0.0 to 1.0) - specifies the degree to which neighboring points on the patch structure can be dragged along with the point that you click and drag. 0.0 means that only one point moves with the mouse action. 1.0 means that all points on the entire patch structure move with the mouse action.
OK button - saves the edited template object to the Model Manager and closes the dialog.
Cancel button - terminates the dialog without saving changes to the patch template object.
To edit a patch template object:
Verify that the template is correctly aligned with the object to which it will be applied.
Select the template in the Model Manager.
Click Patches > Patch Template > Edit in the menu bar.
Set the controls.
Select the Direction option.
Enter a value in the Range text box.
Select the region of the patch template that needs to be edited and move it to the desired position.
Click OK to accept the changes, or click Cancel to exit the operation without making changes.