topic Re: How to change an existing chamfer to make it larger in 3ds Max Modeling Forum

How to change an existing chamfer to make it larger

garceau.dav — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 14:13:09 GMT

Hi guys, I was wondering if anyone found a way to enlarge an existing chamfer ? There's a lot of stuff going on around it so I guess I need something that works real good... I don't have my hopes high on this.

Here's how it looks like:

Thanks.

Re: How to change an existing chamfer to make it larger

10DSpace — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 16:00:58 GMT

@garceau.dav

For the future, if you plan ahead you can change an existing chamfer later as follows:

1. click the radio button for Animate mode in the Edit poly rollout

2. select the edges you want and apply the chamfer settings you want

3. (optional, but recommended) Rename the Edit Poly modifier (Right click>Rename) to something like EP_Chamfer

As long as you do not click the Commit button, the chamfer settings will be changeable and available via the Settings button as shown below:

For the present situation you have, if you had made the chamfer in a single Edit poly modifier with no other changes, then you could at least turn off that edit poly modifier and re do the chamfer with new settings that you want (using animate mode as described above, if you think you may want to change later. If you just made the chamfer and then made lots of other changes in the same Edit Poly modifier, there is no way to go back except by undo. So no way to selectively change the chamfer that you made.

However, in cases where you have a lot of time invested in a model and are just not happy with the chamfer on some edges, I have made changes manually by removing the all the Chamfer edges except the original edge selection that you chamfered (i.e., the middle edge of the chamfer) and then making adjustments to to position of the original edge so that aligns properly with the surface to make a 90 degree angle. Then you can select the same edges and re-do the chamfer as you want. For sure this can be tedious, but it may be worth it depending on your model vs starting at an earlier save version of the model. Hope something here helps you out.

Edit: Here is a link to video demonstrating Animate mode in modeling:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTI74Au9zPY

Re: How to change an existing chamfer to make it larger

domo.spaji — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 21:43:55 GMT

Select (modifier) followed by Relax (modifier)...

If you want to regain volume before relaxing add Push modifier on same selection (in more extreme situations).

Re: How to change an existing chamfer to make it larger

domo.spaji — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 22:12:58 GMT

Wouldn't it be smarter to use dedicated modifier?

Plus, you dont have to use "animate" mode for operations with settings dialog, if dont keyframe it.

Just don't commit result...

Re: How to change an existing chamfer to make it larger

10DSpace — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 02:51:08 GMT

@domo.spaji

Wouldn't it be smarter to use dedicated modifier?

By dedicated Modifier, I guess you mean the Chamfer modifier in this example and that is certainly an alternative workflow. But you cannot select the edges to Chamfer from within the Chamfer modifier and would have to separately add or already have a Polyselect or Edit Poly below it in the stack to select the edges you want. Personally, I prefer the Edit Poly/ Chamfer Settings approach since both sub-object selection and chamfer modifier are all in 1 modifier.

Plus, you dont have to use "animate" mode for operations with settings dialog, if dont keyframe it.

Just don't commit result...

Thanks, you are right you don't need to select animate mode at all if you are not worried about animation and just using this as a modeling technique. The Settings tab is available also in Model mode.