topic Re: SubD selection tools in Alias Forum

SubD selection tools

brian.osborn — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 13:30:45 GMT

Hi, first of all, I am liking the new SubD workflow integrated in Alias, but having used it for a while I am finding the selection process clunky.

At present there are 5 separate tools for selecting various edges or faces, ( which obviously you could hot key or put on ( already crowded) marking menu) but how about just one SubD selection tool?

Something like;

Select SubD ( then on screen choice of edge or face, or edge by default, F to switch to Face), controls come on momentarily as SubD object selected( as with move CV tool, one less action)
Single LHM for single selection
Double LHM for loop selection
Alt+ LHM to subsequently select a range of edges or faces ( from>to)
Ctrl LHM to deselect an edge

Think this would be an easier, faster more intuitive workflow and similar to other packages- anyone else got thoughts?

brian.

Re: SubD selection tools

stephan.pfoertner — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 14:36:27 GMT

Hey Brian,

thanks for your feedback. I will bring your ideas up during our next meeting on that topic.

Maybe one word on why is it the way it is: One of the most important requirements for us, was to make Subdivs work the same like NURBS wherever possible, to guarantee a seamless interplay. That means we don't want to create something, which is only possible on Subdivs - this would make the interface very inconsistent. That said, there comes a lot of legacy with the NURBS interaction, that we needed and wanted to adopt for subdivs. E.g. the Shift, Alt and Ctrl key have a meaning in NURBS world, and we don't want to use it for something else. Chain selection (you named it range selection) is a good example for that. Try [Shift] + [Middle Mouse Button] - it works on many NURBS tools as well.

But as said, we will rethink some behavior, as a result of you feedback.

Cheers
Stephan

Re: SubD selection tools

brian.osborn — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 14:47:05 GMT

Hi Stephan, thanks for the tip about (Shift) +(MMB) for range selection- just what I wanted - but still think selection is a bit clunky overall - By the way, I found if you use Hull select on a SubD edge it selects all the Cvs on that edge but not the edge itself - not sure if this is a happy mistake, but is very usefull.

Brian

Re: SubD selection tools

shinji-pons — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 07:32:32 GMT

It was actually Barry's idea to have Pick Hull select CV's instead of edges on Sub-Ds, again to make it consistent with how it behaves on NURBS.

Re: SubD selection tools

brian.osborn — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 08:04:03 GMT

Hi Shinji, well it was a good call from Barry...