Create Panel > Geometry > Patch Grids > Quad Patch
Quad Patch creates a flat grid with a default of 36 visible rectangular facets. A hidden line divides each facet into two triangular faces for a total of 72 faces.
Quad and Tri Patch
Procedures
To create a patch grid:
On the Create panel > Geometry > Patch Grids > Object Type rollout, click either Quad Patch or Tri Patch.
Drag over any viewport to define a length and width for the patch.
To edit a Quad Patch:
Select a Quad Patch.
On the Modify panel, right click Quad Patch in stack view and choose Editable Patch.
The Quad Patch collapses to an Editable Patch.
On the Editable Patch Selection rollout, click Vertex.
In any viewport, select a vertex on the patch object and move the vertex to change the surface topology.
Vertices and vectors can be animated at the Editable Patch level.
At the sub-object Edge level, you can add patches along any edge. You can create complex patch models beginning from a single patch.
An ear is created by adding patches and editing patch vertices
Interface
Name and Color rollout
The Name and Color rollout lets you rename objects and change their wireframe color.
Keyboard Entry rollout
XYZ: Sets the patch center.
Length: Sets the patch length.
Width: Sets the patch width.
Create: Creates a patch based on the XYZ, Length, and Width values.
Parameters rollout
Length, Width: Sets the grid dimensions in current units.
Length, Width Segments: Determines the number of facets along the length and width of the grid. Defaults=1.
The density of a Quad Patch rises sharply as you increase the segments. A Quad Patch of 2 segments on a side produces 288 faces. The maximum is 100 segments. High segment values can slow performance.
Generate Mapping Coordinates: Creates map coordinates for applying mapped materials. Default=off.