3ds Max 2012 Bible - Kelly L. Murdock [69]
The parameters are different for each primitive object, but you can generally use them to control the dimensions, the number of segments that make up the object, and whether the object is sliced into sections. You can also select the Generate Mapping Coordinates option (which automatically creates material mapping coordinates that are used to position texture maps) and the Real-World Map Size option (which lets you define a texture's dimensions that are maintained regardless of the object size).
Note
After you deselect an object, the Parameters rollout disappears from the Create tab and moves to the Modify tab. You can make future parameter adjustments by selecting an object and clicking the Modify tab. •
Recovering from mistakes and deleting objects
Before going any further, you need to be reminded how to undo the last action with the Undo menu command. The Undo (Ctrl+Z) menu command will undo the last action, whether it's creating an object or changing a parameter. The Redo (Ctrl+Y) menu command lets you redo an action that was undone.
Note
A separate undo feature for undoing a view change is available in the Views menu. The Views⇒Undo View Change (Shift+Z) applies to any viewport changes like zooming, panning, and rotating the view. •
You can set the levels of undo in the General panel of the Preference Settings dialog box. If you click on the small arrow to the left of either the Undo button or the Redo button on the Quick Access toolbar, a list of recent actions is displayed. You can select any action from this list to be undone.
Tip
Another way to experiment with objects is with the Hold (Ctrl+H) and Fetch (Alt+Ctrl+F) features, also found in the Edit menu. The Hold command holds the entire scene, including any viewport configurations, in a temporary buffer. You can recall a held scene at any time using the Fetch command. This is a quick alternative to saving a file. •
The Edit⇒Delete menu command removes the selected object (or objects) from the scene. (The keyboard shortcut for this command is, luckily, the Delete key, because anything else would be confusing.)
Tutorial: Exploring the Platonic solids
Among the many discoveries of Plato, an ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher, were the mathematical formulas that defined perfect geometric solids. A perfect geometric solid is one that is made up of polygon faces that are consistent throughout the object. The five solids that meet these criteria have come to be known as the Platonic solids.
Using Max, you can create and explore these interesting geometric shapes. Each of these shapes is available as a primitive object using the Hedra primitive object. The Hedra primitive object is one of the Extended Primitives.
To create the five Platonic solids as primitive objects, follow these steps:
1. Open the Create panel, click the Geometry category button, and select Extended Primitives from the subcategory drop-down list. Click the Hedra button to enter Hedra creation mode, or select the Create⇒Extended Primitives⇒Hedra menu command.
2. Click in the Top viewport, and drag to the left to create a simple Tetrahedron object.
After the object is created, you can adjust its settings by altering the settings in the Parameters rollout.
Caution
Primitive parameters are available in the Create panel only while the new object is selected. If you deselect the new object, then the parameters are no longer visible in the Create panel, but you can access the object's parameters in the Modify panel. •
3. Select the Tetra option in the Parameters rollout, set the P value