Edit the original objects after a boolean operation
 
 
 

The objects you combine in a boolean operation to create a union, subtraction, or intersection still exist in the scene, they are just hidden. You can select them, edit them, and make them visible again.

If you want to transform the objects after a Boolean operation, you have to access the history of the objects from the Hypergraph, Outliner, Channel Box, or Attribute Editor. You can then use Maya’s transformation tools or enter values to transform the objects.

To select an input object

  1. After a boolean operation, select Window > Hypergraph: Hierarchy to open the Hypergraph.

    The result of the boolean operation is a single node.

  2. In the Hypergraph, select the input object you want to transform.
  3. In the scene view, the object changes color to indicate that you are now working on an object’s history nodes.

To make an input object visible

  1. To display one of the input objects you used when performing the boolean operation, select the transform node for the input object in the Hypergraph.
  2. Turn Visibility on in the transform node’s Attribute Editor.
  3. Select the object’s transform node, open the Display section, and turn on the Visibility checkbox.

    Now you can see the input object as well as edit it. The Boolean operation constantly updates the original object based on the new transformed tool object.

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