9

Working with AEC Design Elements 211
3.
After clicking Window or Door, choose one of
two Creation Methods: Width/Depth/Height
or Width/Height/Depth.
4. Make parameter adjustments to define details.
The width and orientation of the door/window
is always defined by the first mouse click and
subsequent mouse drag. Depending on the
creation method you use, either the height or
depth of the object is defined next.
Ifyouhavenoobjectsnapssetandareworking
in a Perspec tive or User View port, using
the Width/Depth/Height Creation Method
creates an upright Door or Window. The
Width/Height/Depth Creation Method creates the
object as if it were lying on its side.
Allowing Non-ver tical Jamb s
TheAllowNon-verticalJambstoggleisuseful
for creating doors or windows th at do not fit in
a vert ical plane, such as a sk ylight window in a
sloping roof. By default, this toggle is off, ma king
the third point in the creation sequence either
directly above (Width/Height/Depth) or on the
same horizontal plane (Width/Depth/Height)
w ith the second p oint.
WhenyouturnonAllowNon-verticalJambs,the
third point in the creation sequence falls wherever
youchooseandthefourthpointisaddedbythe
program. Its offset f rom the plane is determined
by the first three points.
Using the Width/Height/Depth Creation Method
in Perspective and User v iewports with Allow
Non-vertical Jambs off can be an efficient way
to create doors and windows with Object Snaps.
However , it can also be confusing at first. Keep in
mind that the third point you define, the Height,
is interpreted as a point on the home grid until
you indicate a point higher or lower than the grid.
If you are using an Object Snap sett ing, 3ds Max
mightnotknowyoumeanapointoffthegrid
unless you bring the cursor in proximit y to a
nonplanar point to which it can snap.
Additional Parameters
There are additional parameters specific to
each door and window type that control overall
dimension parameters, as well as detailed
parameters for sub-object components such as
mullions, trim, and panels within leaves. See Doors
(page 1–246) and Windows (page 1–253) for more
information on these parameters.
Animating Doors and Windows
Certain door and window creation parameters,
including the Open parameter, can be animated.
See Doors (page 1–246) and Windows (page 1–253)
for more information.
Creating Stairs and Railings
3ds Max contains four types of stair objects: spiral
stairs (page 1–235), U -t y pe stairs (page 1–243) with
an intermediate landing, L-type stairs (page 1–232)
w ith a landing at the b end in the stair, and straight
stairs (page 1–239) with no intermediate landing.
A complementary Railing object can be used to
create any number of handrail designs that follow
along a spline path.
For more information, see Stairs (page 1–231).
The Railing Object
UsetheRailingbuttonontheCreatepanelinthe
to produce railing objects. Railing components
include rails, AEC Extended category (page
1–210)posts, and fencing. Fencing includes pickets
(balusters) or solid-filled material (such as glass or
wood strips).
You c an create a railing in two ways: specify the
orientation and height of the railing, or pick a
spline path and apply the railing to that path.
Thesplinepathwitharailingiscalledarailpath.
Later, if you ed it the r ail path, the Rai ling object