The Polygon Modeling panel includes tools for switching sub-object levels, navigating the modifier stack, converting objects to editable poly and Edit Poly, and more.
Because this is perhaps the most commonly used panel, you might want to float it separate from the modeling ribbon (“tear” it off by dragging the panel label), and use the rest of the ribbon minimized, to maximize screen real estate.
Recommended setup: The modeling ribbon is docked and minimized, while the Polygon Modeling panel floats.
Polygon Modeling panel on minimized ribbon
Polygon Modeling panel on maximized ribbon, with expansion
Polygon Modeling panel floating, with expansion
Accesses the Border sub-object level, which lets you select a sequence of edges that borders a hole in the mesh. A border comprises only connected edges with faces on only one side of them, and is always a complete loop. For example, a default box primitive doesn't have a border, but the teapot object has a couple of them: one each on the lid, the body, and the spout, and two on the handle. If you create a cylinder and delete one end, the row of edges around that end forms a border.
When Border sub-object level is active, you can't select edges that aren't on borders. Clicking a single edge on a border selects that whole border.
You can cap a border, either with the Cap function or by applying the Cap Holes modifier. You can also connect borders between objects with the Connect compound object.
Switches to the Modify panel, or if the Modify panel is active, shows the current modifier stack level.
This option lets you preview a sub-object selection before committing to it. You can preview at the current sub-object level, or switch sub-object levels automatically based on the mouse position. The choices are:
To select multiple sub-objects at the current level, press and hold Ctrl, move the mouse to highlight more sub-objects, and then click to select all highlighted sub-objects.
Polygon sub-object selection preview with Ctrl held down
To deselect multiple sub-objects at the current level, press and hold Ctrl+Alt, move the mouse to highlight more sub-objects, and then click a selected sub-object. This deselects all highlighted sub-objects.
To select multiple sub-objects of the same type, press and hold Ctrl after highlighting a sub-object, move the mouse to highlight more sub-objects, and then click to activate that sub-object level and select all highlighted sub-objects.
To deselect multiple sub-objects at the current sub-object level, press and hold Ctrl+Alt, move the mouse to highlight more sub-objects, and then click a selected sub-object. This deselects all highlighted sub-objects. Note that this method does not switch sub-object levels.
Toggles Soft Selection and the Soft Panel, with settings for controlling how Soft Selection works. Available only at sub-object levels.
When off, transforming a sub-object selection affects only those sub-objects.
When on, partially selects sub-objects near an explicit selection, depicted as a color gradient. Transforming then falls off with distance from explicitly selected sub-objects.
Left: Vertex moved with Soft Selection off
Right: Vertex moved with Soft Selection on
Same as Collapse All: Collapses the selected object’s entire stack to an editable object that preserves the cumulative effect of the collapsed modifiers on the base object. See Collapsing the Stack.
You can use the Graphite Modeling Tools with an object that results from collapsing the stack only if it’s an editable poly.
Applies the Edit Poly modifier to the object and switches to Modify mode.
Opens the Topology Dialog with tools for adjusting the object’s geometric makeup.
Opens the Symmetry Tools Dialog with controls for making models symmetrical.
Toggles the level of feedback for the QuickSlice and Cut tools, as well as all settings dialogs and caddies. Available with editable poly objects, but not the Edit Poly modifier.
When on (the default), 3ds Max updates the viewport in real time as you use the mouse to manipulate the tool or change a numeric setting. With Cut and QuickSlice, when Full Interactivity is off, only the rubber-band line is visible until you click. Similarly, with numeric settings in caddies, the final result is visible only when you release the mouse button after changing the setting.
The state of Full Interactivity doesn't affect changing a numeric setting from the keyboard. Whether it's on or off, the setting takes effect only when you exit the field by pressing Tab or Enter, or by clicking a different control in the dialog.
The Soft panel opens when Use Soft Selection is on, and provides controls for modifying how Soft Selection works. For details, see Soft Selection Rollout
The topology tools rework an object’s mesh subdivision into procedurally generated patterns. You can apply a topology pattern over an entire surface or a selected section.
These are tools for making models symmetrical when using the Symmetry modifier is not an option, such as when working with morph targets. You can model one side of the model and apply these tools to make it symmetrical about an axis.