9

Path Parameters Rollout 357
Inter face
On the Path Parameters rollout, you control the
position of multiple shapes at different intervals
along the path of the loft object.
Path—Lets you set a path level by entering a va lue
or dr ag ging the spinner. If Snap is on, the value
will jump to the previous snap increment. The
Path value depends on the selected measuring
method. Changing t he measuring method causes
the Path value to change.
Inserting different shapes at different positions on the path
Snap—Lets you set a consistent distance between
shapes along the path. The Snap value depends
on the selected measuring metho d . Changing the
measuring method also changes the Snap value to
keep snap spacing constant.
On—When On is turned on, Snap is active.
Default=off.
Percentage—Expresses the path level as a
percentage of the total p ath length.
Distance—Expresses the path level as an absolute
distance from the first vertex of the path.
Pat h S tep s —Places shapes on path steps and
vertices, rather than as a percentage or a distance
along the path.
When Path Steps is on, the following t ake place:
• The Path spinner specifies the step along the
path. The first step, at 0, is the firs t vertex.
• The total number of steps, including vertices,
appears in parentheses beside the Path spinner.
• The current path level is indicated by the
standard yellow X when it’s a step, and by a
small b oxed X when it’ s a vertex.
• Get Shape places a selected shape on the
specified step or a vertex of th e path.
• Adaptive Path Steps on the Skin Parameters
rollout is unavailable. (If it were available, the
path steps and shapes would change positions
along the path, depending on the result of the
adaptive algorithm.)
Please note the following when using the Path
Steps option:
• When you switch to Pa th Steps with a loft object
that already contains one or more shapes, an
aler t message tells you that this action may
relocate shapes. T his is b ecause there are a
limited number of path steps, and only one
shape can be on a single step or vertex. The
Percentage and Distance options, on the other
hand, provide an almost unlimited number of
levels on which to place shapes. Thus, if you
change from Percentage or Distance to Path
Steps, t he shapes must be moved to existing
steps. If t here are more shapes than can be
movedtonearbysteps,youcouldendupwith
more than one shape on a step. S witching from
Path Steps to either Percentage or Distance,
however,canalwaysbedonewithoutlossof
data.