Shift transform cloning of part of an object just produces a cloud of vertices.

[brand_maccus]

I'm trying to copy the top section of an object (rocket model) to create a separate object (crew capsule).

It will only allow me to do this with vertices selected, but all I end up with is a cloud of unconnected vertices.

Is there a different technique that I should be using to get the new object that I obviously want? If not, is there a way to get back the edges that weren't copied over to the new object?

If neither of the above options are possible, would the proper procedure be to just copy the whole object and chop off the parts that I don't want?

[leeminardi · Accepted solution]

The simple thing to do is to clone- copy (not instance) (ctrl-V) the entire object and then delete what you do not want in the copy.

[brand_maccus]

I was just reminded that I haven't checked "accept solution". I took your advice and was able to accomplish what I had been trying to do, but I seem to learn as much when things don't work the way I expect as when they do. So, I was still hoping to get a bit more information on why it acted the way it did, and whether the "cloud of vertices" could be reconnected (I never figured out how, if it is possible).

Thank you.

[leeminardi · Accepted solution]

It's not clear what you expect with a "cloud of vertices" but if you have an editable poly you can select the vertices (or edges, polygons) and use Detach to make a new object from part of the existing object.

[brand_maccus]

"Detach As Clone" does exactly what I was trying to do initially, thank you.

To be clear, I haven't had access to 3ds Max for over a decade and it feels like I'm learning an entirely new program. I wasn't expecting a "cloud of vertices" when I tried the shift-transform method and was just wondering why it would only work on vertices and why the object that resulted had no edges and why there seemed to be no way of reconnecting them.

You needn't reply to this, I was just trying to explain why my question sounded dumb.

Thanks again.