Applying Tangent and Binormal Properties

 
 
 

You can apply a property that creates either a set of tangents or a set of binormals for a selected polygon mesh object. The tangents and binormals are each stored in their own color at vertices (CAV) property.

To apply a tangent or binormal property

  1. Select the polygon mesh object to which you want to apply the property.

  2. Choose Get Property Texture Projection [type of projection].

    The texture projection is important because it generates the texture coordinates that are used to compute the tangents and binormals. However, if you do not apply a texture projection to the object prior to applying the tangent or binormal property, a unique UVs texture projection is automatically created for you (Texcoord) and the polygon packing algorithm (PolyPackUV) is used as the method for assigning the polygon's UV coordinates. For more information about this type of projection, see Unique UVs Projection (Polygons Only).

  3. Choose Get Property Tangent.

    Creates a Tangent property on the selection and applies the TangentOp2 operator that reads from the texture projection to compute the tangents at every vertex and stores them in a color at vertices (CAV) property.

    and/or

  4. Choose Get Property Binormal.

    Creates a Binormal property on the selection and applies the TangentOp2 operator that reads from the texture projection to compute the binormals at every vertex and stores them in a color at vertices (CAV) property.

    NoteThe TangentOp2 operator is used to generate both tangents and binormals depending on whether Tangents or Binormals is set for the Operator Type parameter.