• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

CrossInsert

If two splines that are part of the same object overlap, you can use the CrossInsert button to create a vertex on each spline at the location where they intersect. The distance between the two splines must be closer than the Threshold value for this to work. Note that this button does not join the two splines; it only creates a vertex on each spline. Use the Weld button to join the splines. Figure 12.23 shows how you can use the CrossInsert button to add vertices at the intersection points of two elliptical splines. Notice that each ellipse now has eight vertices.

FIGURE 12.23

The CrossInsert button can add vertices to any overlapping splines of the same object.

Fillet

The Fillet button is used to round the corners of a spline where two edges meet. To use the Fillet command, click the Fillet button and then drag on a corner vertex in the viewport. The more you drag, the larger the Fillet. You can also enter a Fillet value in the Fillet spinner for the vertices that are selected. The Fillet has a maximum value based on the geometry of the spline. Figure 12.24 shows the Fillet command applied to an 8-pointed star with values of 10, 15, and 20. Notice that each selected vertex has split into two.

Caution

Be careful not to apply the fillet command multiple times to the selected vertices. If the new vertices cross over each other, then the normals will be misaligned, which will cause problems when you use modifiers. •

Note

You can fillet several vertices at once by selecting them and then clicking the Fillet button and dragging the Fillet distance. •

FIGURE 12.24

The Fillet button can round the corners of a shape.

Chamfer

The Chamfer button works much like the Fillet button, except that the corners are replaced with straight-line segments instead of smooth curves. This keeps the resulting shape simpler and maintains hard corners. To use the Chamfer command, click the Chamfer button and drag on a vertex to create the Chamfer. You can also enter a Chamfer value in the rollout. Figure 12.25 shows chamfers applied to the same 8-pointed shape with the same values of 10, 15, and 20.

FIGURE 12.25

Chamfers alter the look of spline corners.

Tangent Copy and Tangent Paste

If you spend considerable time positioning the handles for the Bézier or Bézier Corner vertices just right, it can be tricky to repeat these precise positions again for other handles. Using the Tangent Copy and Tangent Paste buttons, you can copy the handle positions between different handles. To do so, simply select a handle that you wish to copy and click the Copy button, and then select the vertex to which you want to copy the handle and press the Paste button. The Paste Length button copies the handle length along with its orientation, if enabled.

Hide/Unhide All

The Hide and Unhide All buttons hide and unhide spline subobjects. They can be used in any subobject mode. To hide a subobject, select the subobject and click the Hide button. To unhide the hidden subobjects, click the Unhide All button.

Bind/Unbind

The Bind button attaches an end vertex to a segment. The bound vertex then cannot be moved independently, but only as part of the bound segment. The Unbind button removes the binding on the vertex and lets it move independently again. To bind a vertex, click the Bind button and then drag from the vertex to the segment to bind to. To exit Bind mode, right-click in the viewport or click the Bind button again.

For Figure 12.26, a circle shape is created and converted to an Editable Spline object. The right vertex is selected and then separated from the circle with the Break button. Then by clicking the Bind button and dragging the vertex to the opposite line segment, the vertex is bound to the segment. Any movement of the spline keeps this vertex bound to the segment.

FIGURE 12.26

The Bind button attaches one end of the circle shape to a segment.

Delete

The Delete button deletes the selected subobject. You can use