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7. Rotate the Perspective viewport until all shapes are visible and easily selectable. Then select each and rotate each of the cross sections in the Top viewport so their first vertices are aligned. This helps prevent any twisting that may occur when the cross sections try to align the first vertices.

8. Select the Linear option in the New Vertex Type section in the Geometry rollout, and then click the Cross Section button. Click the lowest square shape in the Perspective viewport, followed by the higher square shape, and then the lower small circle. This creates a spline that runs linearly between these lowest three cross-section shapes. Right-click in the Perspective viewport to exit Cross Section mode.

9. Select the Bezier option in the New Vertex Type section, and then click the Cross Section button again. Click the lowest circle shape in the Perspective viewport, followed by the larger circle shape, and then the higher small circle. This creates a spline that runs smoothly between the last three cross-section shapes. Right-click in the Perspective viewport to exit Cross Section mode.

Tip

Once a spline outline is constructed, you can use the Surface modifier to add a surface to the object. •

Figure 12.19 shows the splines running between the different cross sections. A key benefit to the Editable Spline approach is that you don't need to order the cross-section shapes exactly. You just need to click on them in the order that you want.

Editing vertices

To edit a vertex, click the Vertex subobject in the Modifier Stack or select the vertex icon from the Selection rollout (keyboard shortcut, 1). After the Vertex subobject type is selected, you can use the transform buttons on the main toolbar to move, rotate, and scale the selected vertex or vertices. Moving a vertex around causes the associated spline segments to follow.

With a vertex selected, you can change its type from Corner, Smooth, Bézier, or Bézier Corner by right-clicking and selecting the type from the pop-up quadmenu.

Caution

The New Vertex Type section in the top of the Geometry sets only the vertex type for new vertices created when you Shift-copy segments and splines or new vertices created with the Cross Section button. These options cannot be used to change vertex type for existing vertices. •

Selecting the Bézier or Bézier Corner type vertex reveals green-colored handles on either side of the vertex. Dragging these handles away from the vertex alters the curvature of the segment. Bézier type vertices have both handles in the same line, but Corner Bézier type vertices do not. This allows them to create sharp angles.

FIGURE 12.19

The Cross Section feature of Editable Splines can create splines that run between several cross-section shapes.

Note

Holding down the Shift key while clicking and dragging on a handle causes the handle to move independently of the other handle, turning it into a Bézier Corner type vertex instead of a plain Bézier. You can use it to create sharp corner points. •

Figure 12.20 shows how the Bézier and Bézier Corner handles work. The first image shows all vertices of a circle selected where you can see the handles protruding from both sides of each vertex. The second image shows what happens to the circle when one of the handles is moved. The handles for Bézier vertices move together, so moving one upward causes the other to move downward. The third image shows a Bézier Corner vertex where the handles can move independently to create sharp points. The fourth image shows two Bézier Corner vertices moved with the Lock Handles and Alike options enabled. This causes the handles to the left of the vertices to move together. The final image has the Lock Handles and All options selected, causing the handles of all selected vertices to move together.

The pop-up quadmenu also includes a command to Reset Tangents. This option makes the tangents revert to their original orientation before the handles were moved.

FIGURE 12.20

Moving the vertex handles alters