19.0

5Interface
Click on the second icon to create a cube. Click and hold to see all available parametric objects. Before we proceed
we will increase the cube‘s subdivision. At the bottom right of the Attributes Manager you will find the Segments X,
Y and Z settings. Increase each value to 3.
Note: After an object has been initially created it is a parametric object. An object can only be modified as a whole
and not its individual surfaces (an exception are special deformers from the Deformer menu). Before you begin
modeling, the parametric object must be converted to a polygonal object. To do so, select the object you want to
convert and run the Make Editable command by pressing the c - key on your keyboard. You can now move or modify
individual points and surfaces.
Two icons to the right of the Cube Primitive symbol (black cage with white points and turquoise inner) are the
Generator objects. The most important of these is the Subdivision Surfaces object.
If a polygon object is a sub-object of a Subdivision Surfaces object (create a Subdivision Surfaces object and drag
the polygon object onto the Subdivision Surfaces object in the Object Manager) it will be virtually subdivided to a
higher degree. Visually it will be comprised of many more smaller polygons than before the subdivision (the object
automatically looks softer/rounder). As you can see in the next screen shot: The outer mesh (light blue) shows the
polygon cube’s actual subdivision.
The finer inner mesh (blue) shows the subdivision of the Subdivision Surfaces object. Change the cube‘s display mode
by selecting (deactivating) Options/Isoline Editing in the Viewport’s menu and switching to Gouraud Shading (Lines)
in the Editor’s Display menu. In the end it’s up to you how you want your objects displayed in the same menu. Then
switch to the Use Polygon Mode in the left Icon Palette. However, for this tutorial, this is the most effective way to
show the effect Subdivision Surfaces objects have on polygonal objects or primitives since it shows how the cube is
subdivided and the final result is therefore also easier to visualize.