Modeler - Polygon
Points
This is used to add single or multiple points to the current layer. The
points are created one at a time at the current location of the crosshair.
The left mouse button is used to locate where the next point will be created,
while the right button is used to actually create the point at the current
location. The Make command may also be used to create the point. The points,
when created, will remain selected.
Make
This is used to create a polygon from a group of selected points. The polygon
will be ordered based on the order the points were selected. In some cases,
polygon edges may overlap due to point ordering. To avoid this, ensure
that the points are selected in the proper order, or use the Drag command
to alter the shape of the polygon.
Remove
This is used to delete a polygon face without deleting the points about
the perimeter of the polygon or selected polygons. The Cut command, located
in the cut and paste menu, will remove both the polygon, the edges, and
all the points attached to the polygon.
Add Point
This is uses to add points to an edge of a polygon. The edge will be connected
to the new point by forming two new edges, and then completing the polygon
face to match the newly added point.
Remove Point
This is used to remove a point or points from a polygon without deleting
the point from the current layer. The polygon will be modified to connect
a new edge where the removed point originally was located.
Attach
This is used to attach two polygons together to form a single object, made
of the selected attached polygons. For example, to place the word STOP
on a stop sign, you might use attach functions. This guarantees that errors
in renderings will not occur, as long as they are positioned properly when
attached.
Detach
This is used to detach two or more polygons that have been combined using
the Attach function.
Split
This is used to divide a polygon into two polygons. This is done by selecting
two points about the perimeter of the polygon that are not sharing an edge.
The Split command will then add an edge between these two points and reconstruct
the original polygon into two new polygons that share a common edge.
Merge
This is used to combine two polygons into a single polygon. The two polygons
must share at least one edge to be merged. The resulting polygon will be
the combination of the two polygons. Merging may remove an edge that was
meant to be preserved. Merging may also be used on polygons that are identical
and in the same location, which may occur frequently. Merged polygons will
have less points, polygons, and edges than the unmerged polygons, in most
cases.
Surface
This is used to specify the surface to be rendered on the selected polygon
or polygons. This is normally done in the Layout editor, however it may
also be done while objects are being modeled.
Triple
This is used to convert a polygon into triangles. This is a more basic
form of a polygon, where each triangular polygon contains only 3 edges
and 3 points. Using triangles allows various rendering tricks and modeler
functions to be much more accurate.
Subdivide
This is used to divide a triangle into additional triangles. This is done
by calculating the midpoint of each edge and then connecting these midpoints
as a newly created triangle. By doing so, rendering algorithms and modeler
functions will be more accurate.
Align
Unify
This is used to remove polygons that are sharing the same edges and points.
Unlike Merge, the polygons must have the same points and edges with no
exceptions. Removing duplicate polygons will decrease memory usage and
rendering times, and will increase efficiency.
Flip
This is used to reverse the normal to the plane created by the selected
polygon or polygons. The normal will determine which face will be rendered
on single sided polygons, and determines the actual orientation of the
polygon.