9

Editable Mesh Surface 997
• UsetheoptionssuppliedontheEditGeometry
rollout to modify the selection. Later topics
discuss these options for each of the mesh
components.
•Transformor
Shif t +clone the selection, as
w ith any object.
• Passtheselectiontoalatermodifierinthe
stack. You can apply one or more standard
modifiers to the selection.
• Use the options on the Surface Propert ies
rollout to alter the surface characteristics of
selected mesh components.
Note: Because Edit Mesh modifier functionality is
almost identical to that of editable mesh objects,
features described in the Editable Mesh topics also
apply to objects with Edit Mesh applied, except
as noted.
Tip: Editable Poly (page 1–1022) is simi lar to
Editable Mesh, but lets you work with polygons of
four or more sides, and provides a greater range of
functionalit y.
Tip: You can exit most Editable Mesh command
modes, such as Extrude, by right-clicking in the
active viewport.
See also
Edit Modifiers and Editable O b jects (page 1–506)
Modify ing at the Sub-Object Level (page 1–506)
Modifier Stack Controls (page 3–760)
Procedure
Toproduceaneditablemeshobject:
Firstselecttheobject,andthendooneofthe
following:
• Right-click the objec t and choose Editable
Mesh from the Convert To submenu in the
transform quadrant.
•
Use the Collapse utility (page 1–966).
• Apply a modifier to a parametr ic object that
turns the object into a mesh object in the stack,
and then collapse the stack. (For example, you
canapplyaMeshSelectmodifier.)
•Importanon-parametricobject,suchasthat
found in a 3DS file.
Converting an object to an editable mesh removes
all parametric controls, including the creation
parameters. For example, you can no longer
increase the number of seg ments in a box, slice a
circular primitive, or change the number of sides
on a cylinder. Any mo difiers you apply to an
object are collapsed as well. After conversion, the
only entry left on the stack is "Editable Mesh."
Maintaining a n object’s creation parameters:
As described in the above procedure, you can
convertanexistingobjecttoaneditablemesh,
which replaces the creation parameters in the stack
w ith "Editable Mesh." The creation p arameters are
no longer accessible or animatable. If you want to
maintain the creation parameters, you can use the
following modifiers:
• Edit Mesh Modifier (page 1–634)
• Mesh Select Modifier (page 1–719)
• Delete Mesh Modifier (page 1–626)
• Tessellate Modifier (page 1–865)
• Face Extrude Modifier (page 1–682)
• Affect Region Modifier (page 1–557)
Interfa ce
Modifier Stack display
Show End Result—Normally , if you apply a
modifier such as Twist to an editable-mesh object
andthenreturntotheEditableMeshstackentry,
you cannot see the effect of the modifier on the
object’s geometry. But if you turn on Show End