Handy tool for polygonal modeling– “Extrude Along Spline”

Extrude Along Spline is a very useful tool for creating organic (and multiple) extrusions of polygons in 3 dimensions based upon the shape of a 2 dimensional spline.

It is quite simple to use.

-Simply take your 3D geometry, and from an orthogonal view port, create your 2D spline that represents the direction and length of the extrusion.
-On the 3D geometry, at the sub object polygon level, select the polygons you would like to extrude in the shape of the spline.
-Next, select “extrude along spline” from the modify command panel (it is recommended that you use the settings sub menu so you can have greater control over the extrusion.

As you will see you can control the number of segments, taper, twist and curvature.

3DGuru’s note: This passage is excerpted from my forthcoming book “The 3dsmax Production Handbook” coming out in late 2006. Used by the author with permission copyright Chris Murray (c) 2006. Save Ferris, please make a donation here.

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~ by learn3dsmax on May 15, 2006.