Volume Select Modifier

The Volume Select modifier lets you make a sub-object selection of vertices or faces for passing up the stack to another modifier or modifiers. The sub-object selection is completely separate from the underlying parametric geometry of the object. Like other selection methods, Volume Select works with single or multiple objects.

• Modify panel > Modifier List > Vol. Select
• Default menu: Make a selection. > Modifiers menu > Selection Modifiers > Volume Select
• Alt menu: Make a selection. > Modifiers menu > Selection > Volume Select

Faces and vertices selected using box volumes.

You use a box-, sphere-, or cylinder-shaped gizmo or an object in the scene to define a volume of space as the selection area, to which you can then apply modifiers. You can move the selection over an object and animate it.

When applied, Volume Select begins with the current geometry in the object's stack, whether it's a whole object or a sub-object selection (for example, from an Edit Mesh or another Volume Select modifier).

Top: Original mesh with select gizmo showing

Bottom: Modification made after applying Volume Select modifier

Patches

Patch objects coming up the modifier stack are not converted to a mesh by this modifier. A patch object input to the Volume Select modifier retains its patch definition.

Scaling Compatibility

The Volume Select gizmo scales along with its object. Thus, if you apply a Volume Select modifier, and then change the scale of your object (with the toolbar Scale function) the selection doesn't change. In other words, all three transforms affect the Volume Select gizmo and its object identically.

Volume Select Center

The Volume Select modifier has a center as well as a gizmo. This lets you alter the center for non-animated transforms. However, if you animate a rotation about the offset center, you achieve animation of both rotation and translation.

Procedures

To apply and use volume selection:

1. Select an object and apply the Vol. Select modifier.

   The Parameters rollout appears.

2. In the Stack Selection Level group, choose Object, Vertex, or Face to specify the kind of geometry you want to work with.
3. In the Select By group, choose one of the four volume types: Box, Sphere, Cylinder, or Mesh Object.

   If you choose Mesh Object, you should then click the None button and select an object to use as the selection volume.

4. Choose a selection method and type (defined in the following Interface section). You can change these choices as you work, depending on the particular selection you're trying to make.
5. Once the selection is complete, you can do the following:
   • Apply modifiers to the selection.
   • Transform the Volume Select gizmo at the sub-object level, changing the selection in the process.
   • Combine these options. See the following example.

Example: To animate a volume selection:

1. Apply Volume Select to an object.
2. Make a sub-object selection of the object's geometry at Face or Vertex level, and apply a geometric modifier, such as Bend, to the selection.
3. Move to a nonzero frame and begin animation. Adjust parameters on the geometric modifier, then move to another frame.
4. In the stack, return to the Volume Select modifier. Choose the Volume Select gizmo sub-object. Move the gizmo and its geometry selection to another part of the object.
5. Repeat this process on other frames. Optionally, you can return to the geometric modifier and change its parameters at any frame.

During playback, you see the effect of an animated geometric modifier moving over the object.

Interface

Modifier Stack

Gizmo sub-object

You can transform and animate the gizmo to change the selection. Translating the gizmo translates its center an equal distance. Rotating and scaling the gizmo takes place with respect to its center.

Center sub-object

You can translate and animate the center, which affects rotation or scaling of the Volume Select modifier's gizmo.

For more information on the Stack Display, see Modifier Stack.

Parameters rollout

Stack Selection Level group

Object/Vertex/Face

Volume Select provides three selection levels. Vertex and Face levels put the modifier stack in sub-object selection. You can make one sub-object selection for each Volume Select modifier. You can then toggle the one selection between Face and Vertex level to send either up the stack. Object (top) level lets you modify the whole object while retaining any sub-object selection.

Selection Method group

• Replace Clears any selection passed up the stack to the Volume Select modifier, and then selects geometry within the volume.
• Add Selects all geometry within the volume, adding to any previous selection.
• Subtract Deselects all geometry within the volume.

Invert

Reverses the entire selection set. Geometry that was unselected becomes selected, and vice versa.

Selection Type group

Lets you determine whether selected faces are wholly or partially within the defined volume when you set Stack Selection Level to Face.

• Window Selects only faces with all three vertices within the selection volume.
• Crossing Selects faces with only one vertex within the selection volume.

Select By group

These controls let you define the selection with a primitive, a mesh object, or by surface characteristics.

Volume

• Box/Sphere/Cylinder To define the selection space using a standard primitive-shaped gizmo, choose one of these. You can then scale, rotate, or move the gizmo anywhere around the object.
• Mesh Object Choose this option to use another object to define the selection space. After choosing Mesh Object, click the button below it (labeled "None" by default), and then select an object to use as the volume.

  Besides mesh objects, you can use patch objects and NURBS objects. In addition, if you turn on Soft Selection rollout Use Soft Selection, you can use spline objects and particle systems to define the selection. This latter option is quite powerful because the selection changes as the particles move.

  [Mesh Object button] Click this button, then select an object to define the selection space. You don't need to choose Mesh Object first, but you do need to choose Mesh Object to use the object as a volume. After you select an object, its name appears on the button. This button is labeled "None" if no object has been chosen.

Note: The selection depends on a volume intersecting the object. If a gizmo or object is scaled down and moved inside an object, no selection occurs because no geometry is within the volume of the gizmo.

Surface Features

Defines the selection by surface characteristics instead of a geometric volume. While this doesn't have much to do with volume, it was added because Volume Select is a procedural modifier, whereas Mesh Select is explicit. Now, even if your topology changes, Volume Select will consistently select the faces or vertices using a particular material or smoothing group.

Indicate which type of surface characteristic to base selection on by choosing one of the following:

• Material ID Specifies a material ID. All faces or vertices using the ID indicated by the spinner value are selected.
  Note: Starting in 3ds Max 2024.2, the Material ID parameter can be animated, letting you drive selections at different points along your timeline.
• Sm Group Specifies a smoothing group. All faces or vertices using the ID indicated by the spinner value are selected.
  Note: Starting in 3ds Max 2024.2, the Sm. Group parameter can be animated, letting you drive selections at different points along your timeline.
• Texture Map Specifies a texture map from the scene. Click the map button (labeled "None" by default) to open the Material/Map Browser and choose a texture map to use for selection. All faces or vertices using that texture map will be selected. When using the Texture Map option, you can also specify a mapping channel or the vertex color channel using the Map/Vertex Color radio buttons and spinner.

  You can also drag and drop a map from a Material Editor sample slot. If the Slate Material Editor is open, you can drag from a map node's output socket, then drop onto this button. You can also drag and drop from a map button in the Material Editor or anywhere else in the 3ds Max interface. When you drop a map onto the map button, a dialog asks if you want the map to be a copy (independent) or an instance of the source map.

  To adjust the map's parameters (for example, to assign a bitmap or change the coordinate settings), drag the Map button to the Material Editor, and be sure to drop it as an instance. In the Compact Material Editor, drop the map over an unused sample slot. In the Slate Material Editor, drop it over the active View.

  Note: You must apply mapping to the object below Vol. Select in its stack for the Texture Map selection to work. That is, the Vol. Select modifier must have mapping coordinates passed up the stack so it can use a texture map for selection.
  Note: If you set Selection Type to Window, vertices will be selected if all the faces they touch use the specified material or smoothing group. If you set Selection Type to Crossing, vertices will be selected if they touch any face using the specified material or smoothing group.

Alignment group

These controls are generally used when the gizmo has been transformed out of its original orientation to the object.

Fit

Resizes the gizmo to fit around the object or previous selection in the stack. Maintains any previous rotation.

Center

Recenters the gizmo on the object or previous selection in the stack. Maintains any previous scale or rotation.

Reset

Returns the gizmo to its default size and orientation. Cancels the effect of all previous transforms.

Auto Fit

When on, automatically adjusts the gizmo size and shape to fit the object as you change the underlying topology (for example, transforming vertices).

Soft Selection rollout

These controls, available only at the Vertex stack selection level, let you set a gradual falloff of influence between selected and unselected vertices. See Soft Selection Rollout (Edit/Editable Mesh).

Note: Soft Selection does not apply to materials or smoothing groups. However, if there was already a weighted selection passed up the stack, a Volume Select set to Material or Smoothing Group mode and not set to Replace will preserve the selection.