3ds Max 2012 Bible - Kelly L. Murdock [132]
Each woodshop tool has different parameters that control how it works, such as how hard you turn the screwdriver or the coarseness of the sandpaper. Likewise, each modifier has parameters that you can set that determine how it affects the 3D object.
Modifiers can be used in a number of different ways to reshape objects, apply material mappings, deform an object's surface, and perform many other actions. Many different types of modifiers exist. This chapter introduces you to the concept of modifiers and explains the basics on how to use them. The chapter concludes by exploring two different categories of modifiers that are used to deform geometry objects: Parametric Deformers and Free Form Deformers (FFD).
Exploring the Modifier Stack
All modifiers applied to an object are listed together in a single location known as the Modifier Stack. This Stack is the manager for all modifiers applied to an object and can be found at the top of the Modify panel in the Command Panel. You can also use the Stack to apply and delete modifiers; cut, copy, and paste modifiers between objects; and reorder them.
Understanding Base Objects
The first entry in the Modifier Stack isn't a modifier at all; it is the Base Object. The Base Object is the original object type. The Base Object for a primitive is listed as its object type, such as Sphere or Torus. Editable meshes, polys, patches, and splines can also be Base Objects. NURBS Surfaces and NURBS Curves are also Base Objects.
You can also see the Base Objects using the Schematic View window if you enable the Base Objects option in the Display floater.
Applying modifiers
An object can have several modifiers applied to it. Modifiers can be applied using the Modifiers menu or by selecting the modifier from the Modifier List drop-down list located at the top of the Modify panel directly under the object name. Selecting a modifier in the Modifiers menu or from the Modifier List applies the modifier to the current selected object. Modifiers can be applied to multiple objects if several objects are selected.
Tip
You can quickly jump to a specific modifier in the Modifier List by pressing the first letter of the modifier that you want to select. For example, pressing the T key when the Modifier List is open immediately selects the Taper modifier. •
Note
Some modifiers aren't available for some types of objects. For example, the Extrude and Lathe modifiers are enabled only when a spline or shape is selected. •
Other Modifier Stack entities
Most modifiers are Object-Space modifiers, but another category called World-Space modifiers also exists. World-Space modifiers are similar to Object-Space modifiers, except they are applied using a global coordinate system instead of a coordinate system that is local to the object. More on World-Space modifiers is presented later in this chapter, but you should be aware that World-Space modifiers (identified with the initials WSM) appear at the top of the Modifier Stack and are applied to the object after all Object-Space modifiers.
In addition to World-Space modifiers, Space Warp bindings also appear at the top of the Modifier Stack.
Cross-Reference
Space Warps are covered in Chapter 42, “Using Space Warps.” •
Using the Modifier Stack
After a modifier is applied, its parameters appear in rollouts within the Command Panel. The Modifier Stack rollout, shown in Figure 11.1, lists the base object and all the modifiers that have been applied to an object. Any new modifiers applied to an object are placed at the top of the stack. By selecting a modifier from the list in the Modifier Stack, all the parameters for that specific modifier are displayed in rollouts.
FIGURE 11.1
The Modifier Stack rollout