9.5.2

612 • CHAPTER 11
FUNCTIONS MENU • 613
Connect
Using this command you can create a single object from multiple objects. For example, you might
connect a fence consisting of hundreds of individual planks to form just a single fence object. Not only
does the connected object take up less display space in the Object manager, it is also renders more
quickly even though it has the same number of polygons. You can connect Polygon objects or Spline
objects (not spline primitives, though — the splines must be editable).
To connect objects, select the objects that you want to connect and choose Connect. The original
objects will be preserved; delete these if they are no longer required. Use the command only if you
are certain that the object will not need separating later — although you can separate the object into
its original parts manually, it is a time-consuming process.
When connecting splines together, keep in mind that the interpolation that is set for the top-most of
these splines in the Object manager will be used to set the interpolation for the spline that is created
by the Connect command.
Animation data is not copied to the new object. The original objects (including their animation data)
are preserved.
Current State To Object
If the original object is parametric, the function creates a polygon copy (taking into account any
deformers and hierarchies). Child objects are ignored — the function must be called separately for
each child object that you require.
This command creates a polygon copy of the selected object. For example, if you are using several
deformers on an object, you can copy the resultant shape into a normal polygon object (the deformers
will not be required for the copy). Or perhaps you have dened an animation (e.g. using PLA) and
you want to create a polygon copy of the shape at a particular frame — simply move the time slider
to the required frame, select the object and choose this command. This function is particularly useful
for ne-tuning morph animation manually.
Animation data is not copied to the new object. The original object (including its animation data) is
preserved.
Create and animate an object, e.g. with PLA. Move the time slider until the
object is in the state that you want to copy. Choose Functions > Current State
To Object.