9

Splines and Extended Splines 267
• You can go back and change the par ameters
of a shape containing a single spline after the
shape is created.
• You can create a compound shape by adding
splines to a shape: Select the shape, turn off
Start New Shape, and then create more splines.
• You cannot change the parameters of a
compound shape. For example, create a
compound shape by creating a circle and then
adding an arc. Once you create the arc, you
cannot change the circle parameters.
To cr eate a spline using k eyboard entry:
1.
Click a spline creation button.
2. Expand the Keybo ard Entry rollout.
3. EnterX,Y,andZvaluesforthefirstpoint.
4. Enter values in any remaining parameter fields.
5. Click Create.
Inter face
Object Type rollout (Splines and Extended
Splines)
AutoGr id—Lets you automatically create objects
on the surface of other objects by generating and
activating a temporary construction plane based
on normals of the face that you click.
For more information, see AutoGrid (page 2–7).
Start New Shape—Ashapecancontainasingle
spline or it can be a compound shape containing
multiple splines. You control how many splines are
inashapeusingtheStartNewShapebuttonand
check box on the Object Type rollout. The check
box next to the Start New Shape button determi nes
when new shapes are created. When the box is on,
the program creates a new shape object for every
spline you create. When the box is off, splines are
added to the current shape until you click the Start
New Shape button.
Sha pe S election buttons—Lets you specify the t ype
of shape to create.
Name and Color rollout
Lets you name an object and as sign it a viewport
color. For details, see Ob ject Name and Wireframe
Color (page 3–757).
Rendering rollout
Letsyouturnonandofftherenderabilityofa
spline or NURBS curve, specify its thickness in the
rendered scene, and apply mapping coordinates.