Menu Cells

Effect -> Merge

The Effect -> Merge command in the Model module allows you to create a single object from a group of objects which are not necessarily of the same type; for example, merge a polygon mesh object and a patch surface object.

This operation is similar to a Boolean union, but the resulting model is not optimized; no edges and vertices are removed unless you set a threshold for merging vertices.

While the resulting object can be scaled, rotated, and translated as one object, the operation does not bring the component objects any closer together, or create any merge/blend portion between them.

For examples and tips for using this command, see the Merging Objects section in the Modelling User's Guide.

Procedure

1. Choose the Multi menu cell.

2. Select all the objects to be merged.

3. Choose the Effect -> Merge command.

The Merge dialogue box is displayed.

4. To manually optimize the resulting object, you can choose merge points which are closer than n SOFTIMAGE units.

5. Click Ok to accept the settings or Cancel to exit the option.

All objects are first converted to polygon mesh objects in the result. The original objects are preserved.

Parameters

Merge Near Points if Distance Less than n

Merges points if the distance between them is less than the value set, measured in SOFTIMAGE units.

Reorder Resulting Polygon

Reorders the merged object's polygons so that normals are oriented in the same direction. This option is usually used for objects created in another file format, or when there is a collision of polygons.

SOFTIMAGE 3D Reference - 18 APR 1996