Interface

Vertex

Accesses the Vertex sub-object level, which lets you select a vertex beneath the cursor; region selection selects vertices within the region.

Edge

Accesses the Edge sub-object level, which lets you select the edge of a face or polygon beneath the cursor; region selection selects multiple edges within the region. At the Edge sub-object level, selected hidden edges are displayed as dashed lines, allowing for more precise selection.

Face

Accesses the Face sub-object level, which lets you select a triangular face beneath the cursor; region selection selects multiple triangular faces within the region. If a selected face has a hidden edge and Shade Selected Faces is off, the edge is displayed as a dashed line.

Polygon

Accesses the Polygon sub-object level, which lets you select all coplanar faces (defined by the value in the Planar Threshold spinner) beneath the cursor. Usually, a polygon is the area you see within the visible wire edges. Region selection selects multiple polygons within the region.

Element

Accesses the Element sub-object level, which lets you select all contiguous faces in an object. Region selection lets you select multiple elements.

By Vertex

When on, and you click a vertex, any sub-objects (at the current level) that use that vertex are selected. Also works with Region Select.

NoteWhen By Vertex is on, you can select sub-objects only by clicking a vertex, or by region.

Ignore Backfacing

When on, selection of sub-objects selects only those sub-objects whose normals are visible in the viewport. When off (the default), selection includes all sub-objects, regardless of the direction of their normals.

NoteThe state of the Backface Cull setting in the Display panel does not affect sub-object selection. Thus, if Ignore Backfacing is off, you can still select sub-objects, even if you can't see them.

Ignore Visible Edges

This is available only at the Polygon sub-object level. When Ignore Visible Edges is off (the default), and you click a face, the selection will not go beyond the visible edges no matter what the setting of the Planar Thresh spinner. When this is on, face selection ignores the visible edges, using the Planar Thresh setting as a guide.

Generally, if you want to select a "facet" (a coplanar collection of faces), you set the Planar Threshold to 1.0. On the other hand, if you're trying to select a curved surface, increase the value depending on the amount of curvature.

• Planar Thresh(Planar Threshold) Specifies the threshold value that determines which faces are coplanar for Polygon face selection.

Show Normals

When on, 3ds Max displays normals in the viewports. Normals are displayed as blue lines.

Show normals is not available in Edge mode.

• ScaleSpecifies the size of the normals displayed in the viewport when Show is on.

Delete Isolated Vertices

When on, 3ds Max eliminates any isolated vertices when you delete a contiguous selection of sub-objects. When off, deleting a selection leaves all vertices intact. Not Available at the Vertex sub-object level. Default=on.

An isolated vertex is one that has no associated face geometry. For example, if Delete Isolated Vertices is off and you delete a rectangular selection of four polygons, all clustered about a single central point, the point remains, suspended in space.

Hide

Hides any selected sub-objects. Edges cannot be hidden.

TipThe Select Invert command on the 3ds Max Edit menu is useful for selecting faces to hide. Select the faces you want to focus on, choose Edit Select Invert, then click the Hide button.

Unhide All

Restores any hidden objects to visibility. Hidden vertices can be unhidden only when in Vertex sub-object level.