The general selection panels comprise the Select panel for selecting sub-objects based on certain topologies; the Stored Selections panel for saving, restoring, and combining sub-object selections; and the Selection Sets panel for copying and pasting named sub-object selection sets.
The Select panel includes the Tops, Open, and Patterns tools for sub-object selection at all levels, plus the Hard tool for selecting edges at the borders of smoothing groups and additional selection tools for polygons.
Select panel at Vertex level
Select panel at Edge/Border level
Select panel at Polygon/Element level (minimized ribbon)
Selects all “open” sub-objects.
The current sub-object level determines the actual results:
Grows the current selection and turns it into a pattern that depends on the initial selection. Make a selection and then choose a Patterns option from the drop-down list. All options work at all sub-object levels except for One Ring, which works only for polygons.
You can use the Pattern tools for a variety of purposes, such as making complex surface details or laying out building structures.
The effect depends very much on the initial selection and thus can be somewhat unpredictable, so the best way to use the patterns is to experiment until you find a result you like.
When on, selecting a polygon also selects neighboring polygons based on the numeric Angle setting to the right of the check box. This value determines the maximum angle between neighboring polygons to select. Available only at the Polygon sub-object level.
For example, if you click a side of a box and the Angle value is less than 90.0, only that side is selected, because all sides are at 90-degree angles to each other. But if the Angle value is 90.0 or greater, all sides of the box are selected. This function speeds up selection of contiguous areas made up of polygons that are at similar angles to one another. You can select coplanar polygons with a single click at any Angle value.
For details, see Polygon: Material IDs rollout.
Displays a dialog that shows the current smoothing groups. Select all polygons that belong to a group by clicking the corresponding numbered button and clicking OK.
If Clear Selection is on, any previously selected polygons are first deselected. If Clear Selection is off, the new selection is added to any existing selection.
This panel provides tools for quickly and easily storing and retrieving selections as well as performing some basic operations between stored selections. You can also use the tools for transferring a selection from one model to another. This is especially useful when working with morph targets if you need to change the same area on multiple models.
Places the current sub-object selection in the Store 1 or Store 2 buffer.
When a buffer contains a stored selection, its Copy button turns blue. When empty, the button background is white.
These controls let you copy and paste named selection sets of sub-objects between objects. Start by creating one or more named selection sets, copy one, select a different object, go to the same sub-object level, and then paste the set.