Cutting 2D geometry on 3D models?

[Anonymous]

In addition to Cut, Qslice, Swift Loop, and PConnect, ProBoolean, and ShapeMerge, what are some other ways of cutting 2D geometry on a 3D model? Are there any others that make the job easier, or can unify all of the aforementioned? As a new 3ds Max user I just wanted to try them all to see which one works the best for me.

[don_3259]

hi yes these are cutting tools in 3ds max the more experience you have for 3d modeling all you know the about this thing...thanks

[Eznaex]

I use a combination of all.Cut and swift loop are the main 2. I use quick slice when I want a nice straight clean cut. Pconnect if the cut tool isn't working correctly (which is quite common). Proboolean for creating holes in thing and I don't use shapemerge.

[dominique.bouthillette]

Hey @Anonymous!

I use all of the aforementioned tools and find them easiest to use for each respective job. Was there something in particular you were looking to do?

Sometimes when I can't use PConnect or Swift Loop I'll go ahead and use Ring/Loop and then use the regular Connect tool to create clean edge loops at the Sub-Object level.

 

Let me know if there's something more specific you were interested in doing though. Thanks! =P

[Anonymous]

Well, at times, I'm trying to cut a straight line and I do use Swift Loop, but I often don't want Swift Loop to cut the whole model just within an area. If I do create a straight cut using Swift Loop, I either have to delete the edges I don't want because it creates a cut through the whole model, or else the Swift Loop doesn't cut through the areas I want. The PConnect seems cool, and can maybe be used with Create Vertex. I tried using Create Vertex but it never puts the points at the right places, and whenever I do put it anywhere I want, it's still exist as isolated vertices. Just trying out bunch of things and some work to what I want, some dont.

[dominique.bouthillette]

What about just using the regular Connect tool in Editable Poly at the Sub-Object level? You can't cut in lines like with the Cut tool, but you will be able to select the edges you'd like to create a nice clean, connecting edge, no additional vertices will be created and the line (unless the models edges are somehow messed up) will be straight. 

You can also go in and add lines, change the distance between them evenly, and shift them up and down the model given they do not hit another edge or set of verts. Does this help? =]

[Anonymous]

No, it doesn't work... If I create a 45 degree cut intersection to cut the area of a square polygon in half, I can no longer use Connect between the parallel edges. Under such circumstance, I can only seem to use "Cut", which forces me to use my eyes to determine if the lines are straight.

Furthermore, I'd like some help on the "Create" found on this page: http://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMAX/2017/ENU/index.html?guid=GUID-E9E83A28-22C0-4FDF-B7CB-35B890ABC...

I've noticed that using Create Vertices/Edges/Poly, I can create them, but they often don't work out the way I want. For instance, these vertices/edges/poly will be created in isolation or in areas that I don't want (usually seemingly random). If possible, please show me how I can better use this function as it seems promising... Or perhaps this function is only used to create geometric shapes in isolation, from the ground up?

See pics.

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @Anonymous,

@dominique.bouthillette is on vacation so I am going to fill in here.  I'll do my best to address your concerns.

1)  You cannot connect through an unselected edge, the 45 degree edge would have to be selected too.  Then, you could use Edge Constraint to make the edges planar without changing the initially selected edge shapes you connected.  (Or however you want them.)   Or, you could just select the faces you want to cut and use Quick Slice.  

2) Cut doesn't force you to use your eyes, you could easily set your snaps to midpoint and ensure that cut is even.  

3) It's always best to start a new thread for different issues, but the general usage of the Create tools that I have seen is to model over top of a high poly model with Step Build to build the low poly.  Usage of snapping tools is essential here.  I'm sure there are other good uses, but this is the primary one from my travels.  So, you are correct in that they are often used to build new shapes from the ground up, but often based on existing geometry.  (Not always.)

Please let me know if you have any questions.  

Best Regards,

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @Anonymous,

I just wanted to follow up here, any progress on this issue?

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Ok, but... How will I make a line that cuts through not only the midpoint section? Using Cut, and turning on Snap at midpoint would only allow me to draw a straight line at the midpoint once I create a 45 degree. And if I use Connect settings in edge, then the straight lines bend perpendicularly at the midsectioning of the 45 degree (see pic). So the only way I could make this work right now based on my knowledge is to create the straight line cut first and then the 45 degree cut after using the Cut tool only (Connect can't do it).

[Alfred.DeFlaminis · Accepted solution]

Hello @Anonymous,

You then turn off snap, turn on edge constraint, and move the edges or verts where you want them without affecting the shape of the edges they connect to.  Can you please experiment a bit with edge constraint?  I think it becomes easier to understand once you've played with it a bit.  

Cut unlike connect, can cut through unselected edges.  Use either you are comfortable with.  Does that make sense? 

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot. I will summarize what we've talked about in this board for future references. See attachment. Happy Maxing!

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Thanks for the update @Anonymous.  If you have any other questions I am happy to help.  What I like about your threads is you summarize what you've learned, this is a good quality and I rather admire you for it.  

Best Regards,