Editable Spline

Editable Spline provides controls for manipulating an object as a spline object and at three sub-object levels: vertex, segment, and spline.

The functions in Editable Spline are the same as those in the Edit Spline modifier. The exception is that when you convert an existing spline shape to an editable spline, the creation parameters are no longer accessible or animatable. However, the spline's interpolation settings (step settings) remain available in the editable spline.

When a spline-editing operation (typically, moving a segment or vertex) causes end vertices to overlap, you can use the Weld command to weld the overlapping vertices together or the Fuse command if you want the two overlapping vertices to occupy the same point in space but remain separate vertices.

Note: Welding coincident vertices is controlled by the End Point Auto-Welding feature.

Show End Result

If you have several modifiers higher in the modifier stack, and want to see the results of edits in an Edit Spline modifier or Editable Spline object, then turn on Show End Result on the Modify panel. As you edit the spline network, you’ll be able to see the result of modifiers above the Editable Spline object. This is useful for Surface Tools work where you add a Surface modifier above an Editable Spline object in the modifier stack.

Procedures

To produce an editable spline object, first select the shape, and then do one of the following:

To select shape sub-objects:

  1. Expand the object's hierarchy in the stack display and choose a sub-object level, or click one of the sub-object buttons at the top of the Selection rollout.

    You can also right-click the object in the viewports and choose a sub-object level from the quad menu: Tools 1 (upper-left) quadrant Sub-objects Choose the sub-object level.

  2. Click a selection or transform tool, and then select sub-objects using standard click or region-selection techniques.

    Because sub-object selections can be complex, you might consider using one of the following techniques to prevent clearing the sub-object selection by accident:

To clone sub-object selections:

To draw a spline cage:

  1. Select a segment sub-object on a spline.
  2. On the Geometry rollout in the Connect Copy group, turn on Connect.
  3. Hold down the key and transform the selected segment. You can move, rotate or scale using the transform gizmo to control the direction.

    Notice that with Connect Copy on, new splines are drawn between the locations of the segment and its clone.

    Tip: Use Area Selection or Fuse before selecting and moving these vertices. They will not move together as they do with the Cross-Section modifier. Or use Fuse to keep the vertices together.

Interface

The following controls are available at the object (top) level and at all sub-object levels.

Rendering and Interpolation rollouts

These creation parameters appear in these rollouts for editable splines. For splines to which the Edit Spline modifier has been applied, creation parameters are available by selecting the object type entry (for example, Circle or NGon) at the bottom of the Modifier Stack Controls.

Rendering rollout

Controls here let you turn on and off the renderability of the shape, specify its thickness in the rendered scene, and apply mapping coordinates. The spline mesh can be viewed in the viewports. You can animate the render parameters, such as the number of sides. Viewport settings cannot be animated.

You can also convert the displayed mesh into a mesh object by applying an Edit Mesh modifier or converting to an Editable Mesh. The system will use the Viewport settings for this mesh conversion if Use Viewport Settings is turned on; otherwise it will use the Renderer settings. This gives maximum flexibility, and will always give the conversion of the mesh displayed in the viewports.

Enable In Renderer
When on, the shape is rendered as a 3D mesh using the Radial or Rectangular parameters set for Renderer.
Enable In Viewport
When on, the shape is displayed in the viewport as a 3D mesh using the Radial or Rectangular parameters set for Renderer.
Use Viewport settings
Lets you set different rendering parameters, and displays the mesh generated by the Viewport settings. Available only when Enable in Viewport is turned on.
Generate Mapping Coords
Turn this on to apply mapping coordinates. Default=off.

The U coordinate wraps once around the thickness of the spline; the V coordinate is mapped once along the length of the spline. Tiling is achieved using the Tiling parameters in the material itself.

Real-World Map Size
Controls the scaling method used for texture mapped materials that are applied to the object. The scaling values are controlled by the Use Real-World Scale settings found in the applied material's Coordinates rollout. Default=off.
Viewport
Choose this to specify Radial or Rectangular parameters for the shape as it will display in the viewport when Enable In Viewport is turned on.
Renderer
Choose this to specify Radial or Rectangular parameters for the shape as it will display when rendered or when viewed in the viewport when Enable In Viewport is turned on.
Radial
Displays the 3D mesh as a cylindrical object.
  • Thickness Specifies the diameter of the viewport or rendered spline mesh. Default=1.0. Range=0.0 to 100,000,000.0.

    Splines rendered at thickness of 1.0 and 5.0, respectively

  • Sides Sets the number of sides (or facets) for the spline mesh n the viewport or renderer. For example, a value of 4 results in a square cross section.
  • Angle Adjusts the rotational position of the cross-section in the viewport or renderer. For example, if the spline mesh has a square cross section you can use Angle to position a "flat" side down.
Rectangular
Displays the spline's mesh shape as rectangular.
  • Aspect Sets the aspect ratio for rectangular cross-sections. The Lock checkbox lets you lock the aspect ratio. When Lock is turned on, Width is locked to Depth that results in a constant ratio of Width to Depth.
  • Length Specifies the size of the cross–section along the local Y axis.
  • Width Specifies the size of the cross–section along the local X axis.
  • Angle Adjusts the rotational position of the cross-section in the viewport or renderer. For example, if you have a square cross-section you can use Angle to position a "flat" side down.
  • Aspect The ratio of length to width. This control is linked to the Length setting; when Aspect is unlocked, changing Length changes Aspect and vice-versa. When Aspect is locked, the control is unavailable, and changing Length or Width automatically changes the Width or Length (respectively) to maintain the current aspect ratio.
Auto Smooth
When on, the spline is auto-smoothed using the threshold specified by the Threshold setting. Auto Smooth sets the smoothing based on the angle between spline segments. Any two adjacent segments are put in the same smoothing group if the angle between them is less than the threshold angle.
Threshold
Specifies the threshold angle in degrees. Any two adjacent spline segments are put in the same smoothing group if the angle between them is less than the threshold angle.

Interpolation rollout

The Interpolation controls set how 3ds Max generates a spline. All spline curves are divided into small straight lines that approximate the true curve. The number of divisions between each vertex on the spline is called steps. The more steps used, the smoother the curve appears.

Splines used in above lathed objects contained two steps (left) and 20 steps (right)

Steps
Use the Steps field to set the number of divisions, or steps, 3ds Max uses between each vertex. Splines with tight curves require many steps to look smooth while gentle curves require fewer steps. Range=0 to 100.

Spline steps can be either adaptive or manually specified. The method used is set by the state of the Adaptive checkbox. The main use for manual interpolation is to create splines for morphing or other operations where you must have exact control over the number of vertices created.

Optimize
When on, removes unneeded steps from straight segments in the spline. Default=on.
Note: Optimize is not available when Adaptive is on.

Optimize was used to create spline in this lathed object.

Adaptive
When on, automatically sets the number of steps for each spline to produce a smooth curve. Straight segments always receive 0 steps. When off, enables manual interpolation control using Optimize and Steps. Default=off.

Selection rollout

Provides controls for turning different sub-object modes on and off, working with named selections and handles, display settings, and information about selected entities.

When you first access the Modify panel with an editable spline selected, you're at the Object level, with access to several functions available as described in Editable Spline (Object). You can toggle the sub-object modes and access relevant functions by clicking sub-object buttons at the top of the Selection rollout.

You can work with parts of shapes and splines using shape sub-object selection of the Editable Spline object. Clicking a button here is the same as selecting a sub-object type in the Modifier List. Click the button again to turn it off and return to object selection level.

Vertices
Define points and curve tangents.
Segments
Connect vertices.
Splines
Are a combination of one or more connected segments.
Named Selections group
Copy
Places a named selection into the copy buffer.
Paste
Pastes a named selection from the copy buffer.
Lock Handles
Normally you can transform the tangent handles of only one vertex at a time, even when multiple vertices are selected. Use the Lock Handles controls to transform multiple Bezier and Bezier Corner handles simultaneously.
  • Alike As you drag the handle of an incoming vector, all incoming vectors of the selected vertices move simultaneously. Likewise, moving the outgoing tangent handle on one vertex moves the outgoing tangent handle for all selected vertices.
  • All Any handle you move affects all handles in the selection, regardless of whether they're broken. This option is also useful when working with a single Bezier Corner vertex when you want to move both handles.

+click a handle to "break" the tangent and move each handle independently. The Alike option must be chosen to break the tangent.

Area Selection
Lets you select automatically all vertices within a specific radius of the vertex you click. At the Vertex sub-object level, turn on Area Selection, and then set the radius with the spinner to the right of the Area Selection checkbox. This is useful when moving vertices that have been created using Connect Copy or Cross Section button.
Segment End
Select a vertex by clicking a segment. In Vertex sub-object, turn on and select a segment close to the vertex that you want selected. Use this when there are a number of coincident vertices and you want to select a vertex on a specific segment. The cursor changes to a cross when it is over a segment. By holding down the key you can add to the selection.
Select By
Selects vertices on the selected spline or segment. First select a spline or segment in sub-object spline or segment, then turn on vertex sub-object and click Select By and choose Spline or Segment. All the vertices on the selected spline or segment are selected. You can then edit the vertices.
Display group
Show Vertex Numbers
When on, 3ds Max displays vertex numbers next to the selected spline's vertices at any sub-object level.
Selected Only
When on, the vertex number or numbers appear only next to selected vertices.

Soft Selection

For information on the Soft Selection rollout settings, see Soft Selection Rollout.

Selection Info

At the bottom of the Selection rollout is a text display giving information about the current selection. If 0 or more than one sub-object is selected, the text gives the number selected.

At the Vertex and Segment sub-object levels, if one sub-object is selected, the text gives the identification numbers of the current spline (with respect to the current object) and of the current selected sub-object. Each spline object contains a spline number 1; if it contains more than one spline, the subsequent splines are numbered consecutively higher.

When a single spline is selected at the Spline sub-object level, the first line displays the identification number of the selected spline and whether it's open or closed, and the second line displays the number of vertices it contains. When more than one spline is selected, the number of splines selected is displayed on the first line, and the total number of vertices they contain is displayed on the second line.

Geometry rollout

The Geometry rollout provides functions for editing a spline object and sub-objects. The functions available at the spline object level (when no sub-object level is active; see Editable Spline (Object)) are also available at all sub-object levels, and work exactly the same at each level. Other functions are also available, depending on which sub-object level is active. Those that apply to other sub-object levels are unavailable.

Topics in this section
Parent topic: Shapes
Related Information
Edit Modifiers and Editable Objects
Working at the Sub-Object Level
Modifier Stack Controls