9

Loft Compound Object 353
As you arr ange shapes along the path, 3ds Max
generates a surface between the s hap es.
You create shape objects to serve as a path for
any number of cross-section shapes. The path
becomes the framework that holds the cross
sections forming your object. If you designate
only one shape on the path, 3ds Max assumes an
identical shape is located at each end of the path.
The surface is then generated between the shapes.
3ds Max places few restrictions on how
you create a loft object. You can create
cur ved, three-dimensional paths and even
three-dimensional cross sections.
When using Get Shape, as you move the cursor
over an inva lid shape, the reason the shape is
invalid is dis played in the prompt line.
Unlik e other compound objects, which are created
from the selected object as so on as you click the
compound-objectbutton,aLoftobjectisnot
created until you click Get Shape or Get Path, and
then select a shape or path.
Loft is enabled when the scene has one or more
shapes. To create a loft object, first create one
or more shap es and then click Loft. Click either
Get Shape or Get Path and select a shape in the
viewports.
Once you create a loft object, you can add and
replace c ross-section shapes or replace the path.
You can als o change or animate the parameters of
the path and shapes.
You can’t animate t he path location of a shape.
YoucanconvertloftobjectstoNURBS surfaces
(page 1–1116).
Pr ocedur es
To crea te a l of t obj ect :
Creatingloftobjectsisdetailedandoffersmany
choices, but the basic process is quite simple.
1. Create a shape to be the loft path.
2. Create one or more shapes to be loft cross
sections.
3. Do one of the following:
• Selec t the path shape and use Get Shape to
addthecrosssectionstotheloft.
• Select a shape and use Get Path to assign
a path to the loft. Use Get Shape to add
additional shapes.
You can use the loft display settings to view t he
skin generated by your loft in both wireframe and
shaded views.
To create a loft with Get Path:
1.
Select a shape as the first cross-section shape.
2. Click Create panel > Geometry > Compound
Objects > Loft.
3. On the Creation Method rollout, click Get Path.
4. Choose Move, Copy, or Instance.
5. Clickashapeforthepath.
ThecursorchangestotheGetPathcursorasyou
move it over valid path shapes. If the cursor does
not change over a shape, that shape is not a valid
path shape and cannot be selected . The first vertex
oftheselectedpathisplacedatthefirstshape’s
pivot and the path tangent is aligned with the
shape’s local Z axis.
To crea te a l of t with G et S hape:
1.
Select a valid path shape as the path.
2. Iftheselectedshapeisnotavalidpath,theGet
Shape button is unavailable.
3. Click Create panel > Geometry > Compound
Objects > Loft.
4. On the Creation Method rollout, click Get
Shape.
5. Choose Move, Copy, or Instance.