9

CrossSection Modifier 623
• A Mult iSegment in the attempted seam contains
segments that are not contiguous and that are
not linked by any seam.
Cross S ecti on M odif ier
Select a spline object with spline cross sections. > M o dify
panel > Mod ifier List > CrossSection
Make a selection. > Modifiers menu > Patch/Spline
Editing > CrossSection
The CrossSection modifier creates a "skin" across
multiple splines. It works by connecting the
vertices of 3D splines to form a skin. The resulting
object is another spline object that can be used
w ith the Surface modifier (page 1–842) to create
a patch surfa ce. These two modifiers, when used
together, are sometimes referred to collectively as
“Surface Tools.”
CrossSection uses splines to create a model of a b oat.
CrossSectioncanbuildaskinacross
various-shaped splines with different vertex counts
and open/closed status. The more different the
splines in vertex count and complexity, the more
likelytheskinwillhavediscontinuity.
Note: Similar functionality is provided by the
Editable Spline object (page 1–289).AttheEditable
Spline > Segment and Spline sub-object levels,
you can create a spline cage using Connect Copy
and Cross Section. Using this method, you need
to region-select the created vertices to transform
them. Also, this method lets you define the
ordering of the spline more easily than does the
CrossSection modifier.
Procedures
Ex ample: To ex plore the CrossS ection modi fi er:
1.
OntheCreatepanel,clickShapes,
then click Circle.
2. Drag in the Top viewport to create a circle about
100 units in radius.
3. On the Modify panel, choose Edit Spline
from the Modifier List.
4. In the modifier s tack display, turn on Spline
sub-object, then select t he circle.
5. In the Front viewport, Shif t +Move the spline
up to copy it.
6. Shi f t +M o v e the copy up to create a third
circle.
Note: The order that you attach or clone splines
is important: this is the order that CrossSection
uses to create the skin.
7. On the Modify panel, choose
CrossSection from the Modifier List.
CrossSection joins the vert ices of the three
circles. A basic spline cylinder is displayed.