The Loops panel features are for working with edge loops, and include tools for creating loops within polygons and at a distance, automatically adjusting a new loop to an object’s shape, random paths, and more.
All of the Loops panel tools are available at the Edge level; other sub-object levels provide a subset or none. At the Polygon level, only Insert Loop and Remove Loop are available. The Vertex level provides Connect, Distance connect, Insert/Remove Loop, and Build End/Corner.
Loops panel at the Edge level on minimized ribbon
Loops panel on maximized ribbon, with expansion
Loops panel floating, with expansion
Creates new edges between pairs of selected vertices.
Connect does not let the new edges cross. Thus, for example, if you select all four vertices of a four-sided polygon and then click Connect, only two of the vertices will be connected. In this case, to connect all four vertices with new edges, use Cut.
Creates new edges between pairs of selected edges using the current Connect Edges settings. Connect is particularly useful for creating or refining edge loops.
Connecting two or more edges using the Settings dialog creates equally spaced edges. The number of edges is set in the dialog. When you click the Connect button, the current dialog settings are applied to the selection.
Opens the Connect Edges caddy, which lets you preview the Connect results, specify the number of edge segments created by the operation, and set spacing and placement for the new edges.
Connects selected edges across one or more edge rings and adjusts the new loop position to fit the shape of the surrounding mesh.
Select an edge ring and apply Flow Connect. For each selected edge, Flow Connect creates a loop through the ring and adjusts the new edges to follow the physical outline of the mesh.
Creates one or more edge loops based on the current sub-object selection and selects the results.
Usage depends on the sub-object level:
Using Insert Loop at the Vertex level
Using Insert Loop at the Edge level
Using Insert Loop at the Polygon level
Removes loops at the current subobject level, and automatically deletes all leftover vertices.
Usage depends on the sub-object level:
Using Remove Loop at the Vertex level
Using Remove Loop at the Edge level
Using Remove Loop at the Polygon level
Adjusts selected edges to fit the shape of the surrounding mesh.
Usage: Select one or more edges and apply. To automatically adjust each edge’s entire loop, first turn on Auto Loop.
Use the spinner to set the flow interactively.
For instructions for using the caddy, see The Caddy Interface.
Toggles the availability of the Set Flow control on the The Caddy Interface when Select And Manipulate is active.
Builds a quad ending to two parallel loops based on the vertex or edge selection.
Select two vertices at the ends of parallel loops ending at the same polygon or the edge connecting them and apply to build a quad ending to two parallel loops.
Using Build End at the Vertex level
Using Build End at the Edge level
Builds a quad corner based on the vertex or edge selection to make an edge-loop turn.
Usage depends on the sub-object level:
Using Build Corner at the Vertex level
Using Build Corner at the Edge level
Opens the Loop Tools Dialog , with features for adjusting loops.
Connects selected edges, randomizing the positions of the created edges.
Select two or more contiguous edges to connect and then click Random Connect. This connects the edges, randomizing the positions of the created edges. The Random Jitter numeric setting (spinner) determines the extent of the randomization.
Using Random Connect at the Edge level
To make a full loop, first turn on Auto Loop (see following) or hold Shift as you click Random Connect. For this, only one selected edge is required.
The rate at which adjusting the Set Flow spinner changes the flow of the selected edges.
The Loop Tools dialog contains tools for adjusting inter-loop distance, curving loops, and more.