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680 Chapter 8: Modifiers
Edit Spline M odifier
Create or select a spline > Modify panel > Object–Space
Modifiers > Edit Spline
Create or select a spline > Modifiers menu > Patch/Spline
Editing > Edit Spline
TheEditSplinemodifierprovidesexplicitediting
tools for different levels of the selected shape:
vertex,segment,orspline. TheEditSpline
modifier matches all the capabilities of the base
Editable Spline object , with the exceptions noted
below. See Editable Spline (page 1–289) for a
complete parameter reference.
TheEditSplinemodifierprovidesexplicitediting
tools for different levels of the selected shape:
vertex,segment,orspline. TheEditSpline
modifier matches all the capabilities of the base
Editable Spline object , with the exceptions noted
below. For a complete parameter reference, see
Editable Spline (page 1–289).
The Rendering and Interpolation rollouts found in
Editable Spline, which allows manipulation of the
spline’s creation parameters, are not available in
the Edit Spline modifier. (The creation para meters
are available in the modifier stack (page 3–760)
for a spline to which Edit Spline is applied.) In
addition, the direct vertex animation capabilities
of Editable Spline are not possible in Edit Spline.
When possible, it’s far more efficient and reliable
to perform explicit editing at the Editable Spline
level rather than store those edits within the Edit
Spline modifier. The Edit Spline modifier must
copy the geometry passed to it, and this storage
can lead to large file sizes. The Edit Spline mo difier
also establishes a topological dependency that can
be adversely effected if earlier operations change
the topology being sent to it.
There are, however, situations where Edit Spline
is the preferred method.
• You want to edit a parametric shape as a spline,
butwanttoretaintheabilitytomodifyits
creation parameters after the edit.
• You want to store your edits temporarily within
Edit Spline until you are satisfied w ith the
results, before committing them permanently
to an editable spline object.
• You need to ma ke edits across several shapes
atonce,butdonotwanttoconvertthemtoa
single editable spline object.
• You have a modifier in the stack t hat must stay
parametric, and the resulting spline must b e
edited after the modifier is applied.
Ex trude Modifier
Select a shape. > Modify panel > Modifier List >
Object-Space Modifiers > Extrude
Select a shape. > Modifiers menu > Mesh Editing >
Extrude
The Extrude modifier adds depth to a shape and
makes it a p arametr ic object.
Above: Spline before extrusion
Below left: Extruded spline with Cap End off
Below right: Extruded spline with Cap End on