Applying Operations

Panel-operations-operations.gif (2575 bytes)

Operations are used to modify the attributes of an object. For example, the Bend Operation is used to Bend an Object, the Fill Material Operation is used to fill the object with a material etc.

Click Button-Panel-Operations.gif (155 bytes) to display the Object Operations panel. Or select the Operation Tab Button-Construction-Operation.gif (1133 bytes) to show all Operation sub-panels.

Operations may operate on Objects, Faces or Points. Only those operations that apply to the current selection will be available

Detail Operations

operation-Bevel.gif (924 bytes)operation-Divide.gif (522 bytes)operation-Smooth.gif (525 bytes)Operation-Edge.gif (110 bytes)operation-Extrude.gif (924 bytes)operation-Optimize.gif (521 bytes)operation-Solidify.gif (523 bytes)operation-SplitPoint.gif (143 bytes)operation-Tip.gif (529 bytes)operation-Triangulate.gif (523 bytes)operation-Trim.gif (912 bytes)Operation-Weld.gif (108 bytes)

Detail Operations are used to add or remove detail from an object. They affect not only the shape of the object, but also the number of faces and points

operation-Bevel.gif (924 bytes) Bevel (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Bevels the selected faces.

If you do not have 3D Canvas Pro, you can bevel edges using the Extrude operation.

Tip7a.gif (4470 bytes) Tip7b.gif (5471 bytes)

 

operation-Divide.gif (522 bytes) Divide (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Divides the selected faces or edges.

Tip8a.gif (420 bytes) Tip8b.gif (501 bytes)

 

operation-Smooth.gif (525 bytes) Smooth

Divides the faces that make up the selected object and smoothes it.

Tip12a.GIF (6856 bytes) Tip12b.gif (8480 bytes)

 

Operation-Edge.gif (110 bytes) Edge (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Creates an edge between two selected points.

Tip17a.gif (420 bytes) Tip17b.gif (462 bytes)

 

operation-Extrude.gif (924 bytes) Extrude

Extrudes and optionally Bevels the selected faces.

Tip3a.gif (4690 bytes) Tip3b.gif (5021 bytes)

 

operation-Optimize.gif (521 bytes) Optimize (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Optimizes the geometry of the object. This often results in a smaller number of faces, but may also correct rendering problems that result from deformation, point editing and face editing.

It is also useful to optimize objects prior to Boolean set operations. This is likely to be useful when objects have been deformed, point edited or face edited.

Tip14a.gif (460 bytes) Tip14b.gif (420 bytes)

 

operation-Solidify.gif (523 bytes) Solidify (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Solidifies an object. Often when objects are imported from other 3D modeling programs, the objects are not solid. This operation attempts to fill any holes found. If this Operation does not make the object solid, or makes it even less solid, try using the Triangulate Operation on the object first.
Tip13a.gif (4528 bytes) Tip13b.gif (4706 bytes)

 

operation-SplitPoint.gif (143 bytes) Split (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Splits the selected point or points.

Tip15a.gif (4398 bytes) Tip15b.gif (4618 bytes)

 

operation-Tip.gif (529 bytes) Tip (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Creates Tips on the selection.

Tip5a.gif (6770 bytes) Tip5b.gif (9203 bytes)

 

operation-Triangulate.gif (523 bytes) Triangulate (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Triangulates the selection. This is commonly used in conjunction with the Solidify Object Operation to correct problems with geometries imported from other 3D modeling programs.

Tip10a.gif (420 bytes) Tip10b.gif (460 bytes)

 

operation-Trim.gif (912 bytes) Trim (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Trims the selection.

Tip6a.gif (9203 bytes) Tip6b.gif (8871 bytes)

 

Operation-Weld.gif (108 bytes) Weld (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Welds selected points into a single point.

Tip18a.gif (4398 bytes) Tip18b.gif (4928 bytes)

 

Deform Operations

operation-Bend.gif (513 bytes)Operation-Puff.gif (929 bytes)operation-Center.gif (528 bytes)Operation-Flatten.gif (148 bytes)operation-Invert.gif (516 bytes)operation-Mirror.gif (525 bytes)operation-Scale.gif (522 bytes)operation-Shear.gif (501 bytes)operation-Shift.gif (518 bytes)operation-SnapScale.gif (531 bytes)operation-Taper.gif (516 bytes)operation-Twist.gif (511 bytes)

Deform Operations change only the shape of an object.

operation-Bend.gif (513 bytes) Bend

Bends the selection.

Tip16a.gif (5043 bytes) Tip16b.gif (4985 bytes)

 

Operation-Puff.gif (929 bytes) Bulge (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Bulges the selected object.

Tip31a.gif (4343 bytes) Tip31b.gif (4489 bytes)

 

operation-Center.gif (528 bytes) Center (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Centers the selection on its frame.

Tip27a.gif (2872 bytes) Tip27b.gif (3134 bytes)

 

Operation-Flatten.gif (148 bytes) Flatten (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Flattens the selected object.

Tip19a.gif (5043 bytes) Tip19b.gif (3317 bytes)

 

operation-Invert.gif (516 bytes) Invert

Inverts the object. This results in the object becoming inside-out, or if the object was already inside-out, it will become right-side out. This is commonly used to correct problems with geometries imported from other 3D modeling programs.

Tip34a.gif (4395 bytes) Tip34b.gif (4311 bytes)

 

operation-Mirror.gif (525 bytes) Mirror (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Mirrors the selected object along the Z axis.

Tip26a.gif (4566 bytes) Tip26b.gif (4440 bytes)

 

operation-Scale.gif (522 bytes) Scale (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Scales the selection.

Tip24a.gif (4395 bytes) Tip24b.gif (4272 bytes)

 

operation-Shear.gif (501 bytes) Shear (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Shears the selection.

Tip22a.gif (5043 bytes) Tip22b.gif (5241 bytes)

 

operation-Shift.gif (518 bytes) Shift (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Shifts the selection.

Tip33a.gif (3134 bytes) Tip33b.gif (2872 bytes)

 

operation-SnapScale.gif (531 bytes) Snap-Scale (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Snaps the size of the selected object to the Snap To Interval.

Tip28a.gif (3955 bytes) Tip28b.gif (4518 bytes)

 

operation-Taper.gif (516 bytes) Taper

Tapers the selection.

Tip25a.gif (5043 bytes) Tip25b.gif (5784 bytes)

 

operation-Twist.gif (511 bytes) Twist (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Twists the selection.

Tip29a.gif (4864 bytes) Tip29b.gif (6678 bytes)

 

Miscellaneous Operations

operation-Fill.gif (535 bytes)Operation-UnWrap.gif (197 bytes)Operation-UVMap.gif (197 bytes)operation-Burst.gif (522 bytes)operation-Crease.gif (514 bytes)Operation-Particle.gif (507 bytes)Operation-Reduce.gif (521 bytes)Operation-Swirl.gif (167 bytes)

operation-Fill.gif (535 bytes) Material-Fill

Fills the selection with the current material from the Material Palette.

Typically this should be the final or near-final operation applied to an object since many Operations destroy any material applied. If you decide to apply a destructive operation after the material, you can move the material operation within the list of layers.

Tip32a.gif (6923 bytes) Tip32b.gif (8327 bytes)

 

Operation-UnWrap.gif (197 bytes) Unwrap (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

The Unwrap operation is used to create a texture that can be painted in a Paint program and applied to an object.

Tip36a.gif (11158 bytes) Tip36b.gif (6022 bytes)

 

Operation-UVMap.gif (197 bytes) UV Map (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Fills the selection and permits manipulation of the created texture coordinates.

Tip37a.gif (6922 bytes) Tip37b.gif (13640 bytes)

 

operation-Burst.gif (522 bytes) Burst

Burst the selected object.

Tip38a.gif (3649 bytes) Tip38b.gif (6863 bytes)

 

operation-Crease.gif (514 bytes) Crease

Adjusts the creasing of the selected object.

Tip4a.gif (6291 bytes) Tip4b.gif (5021 bytes)

 

Operation-Particle.gif (507 bytes) Particle (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Apply a particle effect using the the selected object as the base particle.

Tip39a.gif (4170 bytes) Tip39b.gif (4841 bytes)

 

Operation-Reduce.gif (521 bytes) Reduce (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Reduces the number of faces and points in an object while maintaining object detail.

In the example below an imported object had its point count reduced from 6000 to 1000 with little affect on the shape of the object.

Tip40a.gif (3834 bytes) Tip40b.gif (3765 bytes)

 

Operation-Swirl.gif (167 bytes) Swirl

Swirls the selected object.

Tip41a.gif (1829 bytes) Tip41b.gif (3518 bytes)