A patch is an area of a patch object, defined by three or four surrounding edges and vertices. Controls described in this topic let you manipulate a patch object at the patch level. As well as moving and rotating patches, you can create a separate element by holding down the Shift key during a move operation. This creates a separate element of the selected patches.
Texture Mapping Patches: Interpolation in Curved Space
Patches can now be mapped in curved space; this means simplified texture mapping for patches. A planar map on a complex patch object will not be distorted. At the Patch sub-object level there is a parameter in the right-click quad menu (Tools 1 quadrant) called Linear Mapping. If you leave Linear Mapping off, then textures are interpolated in curved space and behave much like texture mapping a mesh object, predictably.
In the old method, patch mapping is interpolated between the knot points. This works well with procedural maps but not so well with bitmaps, since each patch is linear in UV space.
A complex patch (on right) no longer deforms a bitmap
The two leftmost patches show Linear patch mapping. The top left patch is a patch with planar mapping and the bottom left shows its UVW space representation. The patch on the right is a curved projection where the vectors are used in UVW space projection. Notice the bottom right represents the UVW space and notice how the handles and knots contribute to the shape of the UVW space.
In short, leave the Linear option off for predictable planar maps. Leave the linear mapping option on for backward compatibility.
For information on the controls in this rollout, see Selection Rollout (Editable Patch).
See Soft Selection Rollout for information on the Soft Selection rollout settings.
Flips the normal of any patch you click. To exit, click this button again or right-click anywhere in the 3ds Max interface.
These controls let you use multi/sub-object materials with patches.
Lets you assign a particular material ID number to selected patches for use with multi/sub-object materials and other applications. Use the spinner or enter the number from the keyboard. The total number of available IDs is 65,535.
This drop-down list shows the names of sub-materials if an object has a Multi/Sub-Object material assigned to it. Click the drop arrow and choose a sub-material from the list. The patches or elements that are assigned that material are selected. If an object does not have a Multi/Sub-Object material assigned, the name list is unavailable. Likewise, if multiple objects are selected that have an Edit Patch, Edit Spline, or Edit Mesh modifier applied, the name list is inactive.
Use these controls to assign selected patches to different smoothing groups, and to select patches by smoothing group.
To assign patches to one or more smoothing groups, select the patches, and then click the number(s) of the smoothing group(s) to assign them to.