Add explicit normal support to poly editing methods.

[Swordslayer]

It would be handy to be able to get and set vertex normals using polyOp methods. That way, approachable custom tools and modifiers are made possible, as well as advanced Data Channel modifier operators when using the Maxscript operator with Faces as the input. Something along these lines:

polyOp.getVertNormal <Poly poly> <int face> <int vert> node:<node=unsupplied>
polyOp.setVertNormal <Poly poly> <int face> <int vert> type:(#unspecified | #specified | #explicit) normal:<point3 normal> split:<bool=false> node:<node=unsupplied>
polyOp.getVertNormalType <Poly poly> <int face> <int vert> --> {#unspecified | #specified | #explicit}

Where both normal: and split: would only be applicable when type was set to #explicit, with normal setting the normal direction and split specifying whether the vertex normal would be the same one for all the vertex faces or a new by-face normal will be set.

[brentscannell]

Hi all, I'm happy to report that the development team is starting to discuss this topic and is also starting to prototype some elements of it. There's a discussion happening over in our beta program about this and @Swordslayer  I believe that you're already in involved in it, but just an FYI for any of the voters who want to get involved.

[lightcube]

Please add these methods to Meshops too so they can be used in Scripted Geometry Plugins. And considering that scripters probably account for a much smaller group than general users/artists that might vote...  please consider votes for these methods as X10 in vote count 🙂