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Create panel
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(Helpers)
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Manipulators
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Object Type rollout
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Cone Angle button
Command entry:Create menu
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Helpers
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Manipulators
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Cone Angle
The Cone Angle manipulator is a cone whose base you can adjust. By wiring its Angle value to a parameter of another object,
you can create a custom control, with visual feedback, within a scene.
Cone angle manipulators are used by a spotlight's Hotspot and Falloff controls.
Procedures
To create a cone angle manipulator:
- On the
Create panel, activate
(Helpers) and choose Manipulators from the drop-down list.
- Click to turn on Cone Angle.
- Drag in a viewport, and then release the mouse.
The cone angle manipulator is created along the negative Z axis of the viewport in which you drag. In other words, its initial
position points away from you.
To change the angle of a cone angle manipulator:
- Turn on
(Select And Manipulate).
TipIf you are still in the Create panel, turn on
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(Select Object) before using the manipulator. Otherwise, it is too easy to create a new one.
- In a viewport, move the mouse over the manipulator.
The manipulator turns red when the mouse is over it and it is available to be manipulated. Also, a tooltip appears, showing
the name of the manipulator and its current value.
- Drag the base of the cone angle manipulator's cone.
The Angle value changes as you drag the manipulator. This value can range between 0.0 and 180.0.
To select a cone angle manipulator:
- Turn on
(Select Object).
You can also use
(Select And Move),
(Select And Rotate), and
the scale options on a cone angle manipulator.
- Turn off
(Select And Manipulate).
If you don't turn off Select And Manipulate, you adjust the manipulator's Angle value without affecting its properties.
- Adjust the properties of the selected manipulator.
To connect a cone angle manipulator so it controls another object:
-
Select the cone angle manipulator.
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(Select And Manipulate) must be
off
before you can select the manipulator.
- Choose Animation
Wire Parameters
Wire Parameters.
You can also right-click the manipulator and choose Wire Parameters from the Transform (lower-right) quadrant of the quad
menu.
A pop-up menu appears over the manipulator.
- In the pop-up menu, choose Object (Cone Angle Manipulator)
Angle.
- Click the object you want to manipulate.
A pop-up menu appears over the object.
- In the pop-up menu, choose Object, then the name of the parameter you want to manipulate.
3ds Max opens the Parameter Wiring dialog.
- On the Parameter Wiring dialog, click the “control direction” arrow between the two upper lists that goes from the manipulator
to the object (or both directions), and then click Connect.
- Close the Parameter Wiring dialog.
Now when you turn on
(Select And Manipulate) and use the manipulator, the object updates under the manipulator's control.
Interface
- Angle
-
The initial angle of the manipulator.
- Distance
-
The length of the manipulator, in 3ds Max units. Default=the distance of mouse drag when the manipulator was created.
- Use Square
-
When on, the base of the cone is square or rectangular, rather than circular. Default=off.
- Aspect
-
When Use Square is on, adjusts the aspect ratio of the rectangular cone base. Default=1.0.