To interactively work on vertices of a polygonal model, you must click this action while the model is selected.
It allows you to perform different tasks including standard editing of selected vertices (translation, rotation, scaling, etc.), selection of all vertices, removal of selected vertices, welding of selected vertices (within a given threshold), non-shrinking smoothing of selected vertices with control over boundaries, and display vertex normals.
How to use
1. Select a polygonal model (to convert a NURBS surface into a polygonal one, refer to the PolyMesh from NURBS or PolyMesh from NURBS control net modeling tools).
2. Click the Vertices editing icon or choose the Tools > PolyMesh > Vertices editing command.
3. An alert panel warns you: The selected PolyMesh is part of a Construction Tree. In order to edit with this Modeling Tool, the PolyMesh needs not to be a part of the Construction Tree. Do you want the PolyMesh to be set as hidden and a copy to be created for editing?
Note: If you have previously used a PolyMesh editing tool, the program will not prompt you, as the Construction Tree has already been broken.
4. If you click Yes, a new polygonal model with the same shape of the selected one is created.
When you apply the Vertices editing action, the Construction Tree is broken. The original polygonal model is hidden from the 3D views but still displayed in the hierarchy browser.
The newly created polygonal model is NOT linked in any way to the original one. Thus, modifying the shape of the original model will NOT cause the new PolyMesh to change its shape accordingly.
5. Choose the Edit mode: control vertices can now be picked and edited. They are displayed in blue.
Note: As well as translating vertices, you can rotate and scale them by applying the rotation and scaling transformations as usual.
Options
Vertices
To modify XYZ coordinates of the vertices.
Views. Choose the Edit mode. Click the vertex whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the mouse button when you have reached the desired position. When picked, it turns yellow. For multiple selections, pick vertices while holding down the Ctrl key.
Modeling Tool panel. Select the vertex from the scroll list that appears when you click the [...] button. Type the new coordinates in the XYZ data fields and confirm them by pressing Enter.
Select all
To select all vertices of the polygonal models.
Modeling Tool panel. Just press the Select All button.
Select Boundaries
To select all boundary vertices of the polygonal models.
Modeling Tool panel. Just press the Select All button.
Cut
To delete selected vertices and associated faces.
Modeling Tool panel. Just press the Remove button.
Remove
To delete only selected vertices that connect 2 edges only.
Modeling Tool panel. Just press the Remove button.
Weld vertices
To delete those vertices in a selection whose adjacent faces form an angle that is lower than the specified threshold.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the Welding Thresh. value either by moving the slider or by typing it in the data field, then press the Weld vertices button.
Show normals
Displays the normals direction in the viewport. Normals are displayed as small green lines at the face.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Show normals check button on.
Smooth Factor
Defines a smoothing factor. Values near 0 tend to preserve sharp features.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or by typing it in the data field and press Enter.
Smooth Iterations
Number of iterations for the application of the smoothing filter.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or by typing it in the data field and press Enter .
Boundaries
If this option is checked the polymesh boundaries will not be smoothed.
Smooth
Apply a non-shrinking Gaussian smoothing filter to selected edges (with the specified smoothing factor and number of iterations).
Modeling Tool panel. Press the Smooth button.