Page 749 - Kitab3DsMax

Creating a ShapeMerge Object
The ShapeMerge compound object enables you to use a spline shape as a cookie cutter to extract a portion
of a mesh object. This button is enabled only if a mesh object and a spline exist in the scene. To use this
object, select a mesh object and click the Pick Shape button in the Pick Operand rollout, and then select a
spline shape. The shape can be a Reference, Move, Instance, or Copy.
The spline shape is always projected toward its negative Z-axis. By rotating and positioning the spline
before selecting it, you can apply it to different sides of an object. You can apply multiple shapes to the
same mesh object. Chapter 27: Working with Compound Objects
The Parameters rollout, shown in Figure 27.5, displays each mesh and shape object in a list. You can also
rename either object using the Name field. The Extract Operand button lets you separate either object as an
Instance or a Copy.
FIGURE 27.5
Use the Parameters rollout for the ShapeMerge compound object to cut or merge a shape.

Cookie Cutter and Merge options
The Operations group includes options for cutting the mesh, including Cookie Cutter and Merge. The
Cookie Cutter option cuts the shape out of the mesh surface, and the Merge option combines the spline
with the mesh. You can also Invert the operation to remove the inside or outside of the selected area.
Like the Boolean Subtraction operations, the Cookie Cutter option can remove sections of the mesh, but it
uses the area defined by a spline instead of a volume defined by a mesh object. The Merge option is useful
for marking an area for selection. Figure 27.6 shows a ShapeMerge object with the Cookie Cutter option
selected.

Note
You can use the Merge option to create a precise face object that can be used with the Connect object. n
The Output Sub-Mesh Selection option lets you pass the selection up the Stack for additional modifiers.
Options include None, Face, Edge, and Vertex.

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