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352 Chapter 5: Creating Geometry
If you enter a va lue no greater t han the minimum
elevationintheobject,3dsMaxdividestherange
between the reference and m inimum elevations
into five color zones: dark green, light green,
yellow , purple, and light gray.
If you enter a value between the minimum and
maximumelevations,3dsMaxcreatessixcolor
zones. Two zones (dark blue and light blue) are
used for elevations below the reference elevation.
These are considered to be under water. One zone
(dark yellow) is used for a narrow range around
the reference elevation. Three zones (dark green,
light green, light yellow) are used for elevations
above the reference elevation.
If you enter a value at or above the maximum
elevation, 3ds Max divides the range between
the minimum and reference elevations into three
zones (dark blue, medium blue, light blue).
Zones by Base Elevation group
Cr e ate D e fa u lt s —Creates elevation zones. 3ds Max
lists the elev ation at the bottom of each zone,
referenced to the datum (the reference elevation).
3dsMaxappliesthecolorofthezoneatthebase
elevation. Whether the colors blend between zones
depends on your choice of the Blend to Color
Above or Solid to Top of Zone option.
Color Zone group
The items in this group box assign colors to
elevation zones. For example, you mig ht want
to change levels of blue to indicate the depth for
water. Your changes in the Color Zone area don’t
affect the terrain object until you click the Modify
Zone or Add Zone button.
Base Elev—This is the base elevation of a zone to
which you assign color. After entering a va lue,
click Add Z one to display the elevation in the list
under Create Defaults.
Base Color—Click the color swatch to change the
color of the zone.
•
B le nd t o Color Abov e—Blends the color of the
current zone to the color of the zone above it.
•
Solid to Top of Zone—Makes a solid color at the
top of the zone without blending to the color of
thezoneaboveit.
Modify Zone—Modifies selected options of a zone.
Add Zone—Adds values and selected options for a
new zone.
Delete Zone—Deletes a selected zone.
Lof t Compou nd Obj ect
Select a path or shape. > Create panel > Geometry >
Compound Objects > Object Type rollout > Loft
Select a path or shape. > Create menu > Compound
Objects > Loft
Roadway created as a lofted shape
Loft objects are two-dimensiona l shapes extruded
along a third axis. You create loft objects from
two or more existing spline objects. One of these
splinesservesthepath. Theremainingsplines
serve as cross-sections, or shapes, of the loft object.