3ds Max 2012 Bible - Kelly L. Murdock [105]
Figure 7.14 shows the resulting couple with normal aligned faces.
FIGURE 7.14
Using the Normal Align feature, you can align object faces.
Cross-Reference
In the Align button flyout are two other common ways to align objects: Align Camera and Place Highlight (Ctrl+H). To learn about these features, see Chapter 19, “Configuring and Aiming Cameras,” and Chapter 20, “Using Lights and Basic Lighting Techniques,” respectively. •
Aligning to a view
The Align to View command provides an easy and quick way to reposition objects to one of the axes. To use this command, select an object and choose Tools⇒Align⇒Align to View. The Align to View dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 7.15. Changing the settings in this dialog box displays the results in the viewports. You can use the Flip command for altering the direction of the object points. If no object is selected, then the Align to View command cannot be used.
FIGURE 7.15
The Align to View dialog box is a quick way to line up objects with the axes.
The Align to View command is especially useful for fixing the orientation of objects when you create them in the wrong view. All alignments are completed relative to the object's Local Coordinate System. If several objects are selected, each object is reoriented according to its Local Coordinate System.
Note
Using the Align to View command on symmetrical objects like spheres doesn't produce any noticeable difference in the viewports. •
Using Grids
When Max is started, the one element that is visible is the Home Grid. This grid is there to give you a reference point for creating objects in 3D space. At the center of each grid are two darker lines. These lines meet at the origin point for the World Coordinate System where the coordinates for X, Y, and Z are all 0.0. This point is where all objects are placed by default.
In addition to the Home Grid, you can create and place new grids in the scene. These grids are not rendered, but you can use them to help you locate and align objects in 3D space.
The Home Grid
You can turn the Home Grid on and off by choosing Tools⇒Grid and Snaps⇒Show Home Grid. (You also can turn the Home Grid on and off for the active viewport using the G key.) If the Home Grid is the only grid in the scene, then by default it is also the construction grid where new objects are positioned when created.
You can access the Home Grid parameters (shown in Figure 7.16) by choosing Tools⇒Grid and Snaps⇒Grid and Snap Settings. You also can access this dialog box by right-clicking the Snap, Angle Snap, or Percent Snap toggle buttons located on the main toolbar.
In the Home Grid panel of the Grid and Snap Settings dialog box, you can set how often Major Lines appear, as well as Grid Spacing. (The Spacing value for the active grid is displayed on the status bar.) You also can specify to dynamically update the grid view in all viewports or just in the active one.
The User Grids panel lets you activate any new grids when created.
FIGURE 7.16
The Home Grid and User Grids panels of the Grid and Snap Settings dialog box let you define the grid spacing.
Creating and activating new grids
In addition to the Home Grid, you can create new grids. To create a new Grid object, select the Create⇒Helpers⇒Grid menu command, or open the Create panel, select the Helpers category, and click the Grid button. In the Parameters rollout are settings for specifying the new grid object's dimensions, spacing, and color, as well as which coordinate plane to display (XY, YZ, or ZX).
You can designate any newly created grid as the default active grid. To activate a grid, make sure that it is selected and choose Tools⇒Grid and Snaps⇒Activate Grid Object. Keep in mind that only one grid may be active at a time and that the default Home Grid cannot be selected. You also can activate a grid by right-clicking the grid object and selecting Activate Grid