Editable Poly is an editable object with five sub-object levels: vertex, edge, border, polygon, and element. Its usage is similar to that of an editable mesh object, with controls for manipulating an object as a polygon mesh at various sub-object levels. Rather than triangular faces, however, the poly object comprises polygons with any number of vertices.
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Create or select an object. >
Modify panel > Right-click the base object in the stack. > Choose Convert to: Editable Poly.
Editable Poly gives you these options:
- Transform or Shift+Clone the selection, as with any object.
- Use the options supplied on the Edit rollouts to modify the selection or object. Later topics discuss these options for each of the polymesh components.
- Pass a sub-object selection to a modifier higher in the stack. You can apply one or more standard modifiers to the selection.
- Use the options on the Subdivision Surface Rollout (Polymesh) to alter surface characteristics.
Overriding Actions with Press/Release Keyboard Shortcuts
While working with poly objects, you can use a “press/release keyboard shortcut” to temporarily override the current operation and perform a different one. As soon as you release the keyboard shortcut, you return to the previous operation.
For example, you might be working at the Polygon sub-object level, moving polygons, and need to rotate the object to access a different part of it. Instead of having to exit the Polygon sub-object level, rotate the object and then re-enter the sub-object level, you could simply press and hold 6, rotate the object, release the key, and immediately return to moving polygons.
To see a list of press/release keyboard shortcuts, go to Customize 
Customize User Interface Keyboard panel, open the Group drop-down list, and choose Edit Poly or Editable Poly. The actions in boldface are the ones that you can assign as press/release shortcuts. Not all are assigned; for information about assigning keyboard shortcuts, see Keyboard Panel.
The actions in boldface can function as press/release shortcuts.
Editable Poly Workflow
Commands for specific sub-object levels, such as Remove for edges, appear on a rollout for that sub-object level (for example, Edit Edges) in the Editable Poly user interface. This leaves the Edit Geometry rollout with functions that you can apply at most sub-object levels, as well as at the object level.
Also, many commands are accompanied by a Settings button, which gives you a second way to use the command:
- In Direct Manipulation mode, activated by clicking the command button, you apply the command by manipulating sub-objects directly in the viewport. An example of this is Extrude: You click the Extrude button, and then click and drag sub-objects in the viewports to extrude them. Note: Some buttons, such as Tessellate, operate on the mesh immediately, with no viewport manipulation required.
- Interactive Manipulation mode is well suited to experimentation. You activate this mode by clicking the command's Settings button. This opens a non-modal settings interface (typically a caddy) and places you in a preview mode, where you can set parameters and see the results immediately in the viewport on the current sub-object selection. You can then accept the results or cancel the operation. Alternatively, you can apply the settings to the current sub-object selection and then make one or more subsequent selections and apply or change the settings. Make the selection, optionally change the settings, click Apply And Continue, and then repeat with a different selection. Attention: When you click Apply And Continue, the settings are “baked into” the selection, and then applied again to the selection as a preview. If you then click OK to exit, you will have applied the settings twice. If your intention is to apply them only once, simply click OK the first time, or click Apply And Continue and then Cancel.Note: Changes implemented in Interactive Manipulation mode with editable poly objects cannot be animated. However, they can with Edit Poly objects.
Procedures
To produce an editable poly object:
- If no modifiers are applied to the object, On the Modify panel, right-click the modifier stack display, then on the pop-up menu, choose Editable Poly from the Convert To list.
- Right-click the object and choose Convert To Editable Poly from the Transform quadrant of the quad menu.
- Apply a modifier to a parametric object that turns the object into a poly object in the stack display, and then collapse the stack. For example, you can apply a Turn To Poly modifier.
To collapse the stack, use the Collapse utility and set Output Type to Modifier Stack Result, or right-click the object's modifier stack and then choose Collapse All.
First 
select an object, and then do one of the following:
Converting an object to Editable Poly format removes all parametric controls, including the creation parameters. For example, you can no longer increase the number of segments in a box, slice a circular primitive, or change the number of sides on a cylinder. Any modifiers you apply to an object are merged into the mesh as well. After conversion, the only entry left on the stack is "Editable Poly."
To maintain an object's creation parameters:
- As noted in the previous procedure, if you convert an existing object to editable poly format, 3ds Max replaces the creation parameters in the stack with "Editable Poly." The creation parameters are no longer accessible or animatable. If you want to maintain the creation parameters, you can use the Edit Poly Modifier or the Turn To Poly Modifier.
Interface
Stack Display
For more information on the Stack Display, see Modifier Stack.
- Show End Result
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Normally, if you apply a modifier such as Symmetry to an editable poly object and then return to the Editable Poly stack entry, you cannot see the effect of the modifier on the object's geometry. But if you turn on Show End Result while in sub-object level, you can see the final object as a white mesh, the original sub-object selection as a yellow mesh, and the original editable polymesh as an orange mesh.
Selection rollout
Lets you access the different sub-object levels. See Selection Rollout (Polymesh).
Soft Selection rollout
Soft Selection controls apply a smooth falloff between selected sub-objects and unselected ones. When Use Soft Selection is on, unselected sub-objects near your selection are given partial selection values. These values are shown in the viewports by means of a color gradient on the vertices, and optionally on the faces. They affect most types of sub-object deformations, such as the Move, Rotate, and Scale functions and any deformation modifiers (such as Bend) applied to the object. This provides a magnet-like effect with a sphere of influence around the selection.
For more information, see Soft Selection Rollout.
Edit (sub-object) rollout
The Edit (sub-object) rollout provides sub-object-specific functions for editing an editable poly object and its sub-objects. For specific information, click any of the links below:
Edit Geometry rollout
The Edit Geometry Rollout (Polymesh and Edit Poly) provides global functions for editing an editable poly object and its sub-objects.
Subdivision Surface rollout
Controls on this rollout apply subdivision to the polymesh in the style of the MeshSmooth modifier. See Subdivision Surface Rollout (Polymesh).
Subdivision Displacement rollout
Specifies surface approximation for subdividing the polymesh. See Subdivision Displacement Rollout (Polymesh).
Subdivision Presets group & Subdivision Method group
The controls in these two groups specify how 3ds Max applies the displacement map when Subdivision Displacement is on. They are identical to the Surface Approximation controls used for NURBS surfaces.
Paint Deformation rollout
Paint Deformation lets you stroke elevated and indented areas directly onto object surfaces. For more information, see Paint Deformation Rollout (Polymesh).