Using the Surface Tool

ToolsSurfaceScreenCapture.gif (22801 bytes)

The Surface Tool is primarily used to create organic objects.

Objects are built from a patchwork of surfaces. Surfaces are added to the object by clicking on Button-Surface.gif (129 bytes) .

Clicking on a surface exposes its control points (handles), which can then be dragged to deform the surface.  Selecting a control point on an edge and clicking Button-Surface.gif (129 bytes) results in a new surface being glued to that edge.

A perspective view is provided as well as three orthographic views. A default background grid is provided, but is customizable. You may specify side, top and front view bitmap images of the object you want to create to replace this background grid. Providing a side view image of the object you are creating makes modelling much easier as you can use this image to "trace" your desired object.

The best procedure for creating a model from an image is to lay out one surface at a time matching edges to your side view image. Once you are satisfied with the position of the surfaces and the shape of the object, begin adding depth to your object. Adding depth is easiest with  the orthographic side view of the object. Right click and drag on control points while watching the other three views for correct depth.

Control points glue to each other if placed near each other. If you right-click on a group of control points, you can choose to Un-group them.

A slider is provided to adjust the detail level of the surfaces.

The default Surface type is an N-Spline patch. Alternatively, you may use Bezier patches. For more information on Bezier curves see the Lathe or Extrude tools

Button-NewSmall.gif (138 bytes) creates a new 3D Canvas Object Builder Surface object.

Button-OpenSmall.gif (177 bytes) opens an existing 3D Canvas Object Builder Surface (CBS) file.

Button-SaveSmall.gif (149 bytes) saves the object to a 3D Canvas Object Builder Surface (CBS) file.

Button-DeleteSmall.gif (918 bytes) deletes the active surface.

Button-Undo.gif (143 bytes) undoes the previous operation. Only modelling operations can be undone.

Button-Redo.gif (143 bytes) redoes the last action undone.

Button-Surface.gif (129 bytes) adds a new surface to the object. Select control point on an existing surface to glue the new surface to that edge. If no control point is selected, 3D Canvas will attempt to glue to the most appropriate edge.

Button-MirrorSmall.gif (143 bytes) mirrors the active surface along the z axis. Once you have completed a side view of your object, you can use this to mirror the completed surfaces.

Button-ResetGrid.gif (140 bytes) resets all grid textures to their default.

Button-SideView.gif (138 bytes) allows you to provide a replacement image for the grid. This image should be the side view of the object you wish to create.

Button-TopView.gif (135 bytes) allows you to provide a replacement image for the grid. This image should be the top view of the object you wish to create.

Button-FrontView.gif (134 bytes) allows you to provide a replacement image for the grid. This image should be the front view of the object you wish to create.

Button-ShowAllHandles.gif (935 bytes) displays all control points for all surfaces. Having all control points displayed causes significant performance degradation, but is useful for when you want to glue control points together.

Button-WireframeSmall.gif (139 bytes) displays the surfaces in wireframe.

Button-SmootJoints.gif (131 bytes) smoothes the joints between surfaces. This is provided to allow you to see the object in its final rendered state. Joints when automatically be smoothed when you click the OK button. This results in considerable performance degradation and should only be used on fast systems.

When you click the OK button the object becomes available for dragging and dropping.