Spline Rendering File Link Settings

The Spline Rendering panel of the File Link Settings: DWG Files dialog controls how shapes will appear in the scene once the DWG or DXF file is linked. You can control the appearance of the shape, its smoothing, mapping coordinates and if they can be rendered.

Interface

The controls on this panel are identical in name and operation to those found on the Rendering rollout for splines. The values of these settings are set for all imported shapes. Once the import is complete, you can change the settings as necessary for each object.

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 on.

Generate Mapping Coords

Turn this on to apply mapping coordinates. Default=off.

3ds Max generates the mapping coordinates in the U and V dimensions. The U coordinate wraps once around the spline; the V coordinate is mapped once along its length. Tiling is achieved using the Tiling parameters in the applied material. For more information, see Mapping Coordinates.

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=on.

Auto Smooth

If Auto Smooth is turned on, the spline is auto-smoothed using the threshold specified by the Threshold setting below it. 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.

Viewport/Renderer group

  • 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 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 9999.0.

    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 a rectangle.

  • 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 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 Length that results in a constant ratio of Width to Length.
Parent topic: File Link Settings: DWG and DXF Files