MultiSlice

The Effect->MultiSlice command in the Model module is a variation on the Effect->Slice command that lets you slice a SOFTIMAGE 3D hierarchy by multiple slicing planes at once.

Note:

To slice through non-polygon mesh objects such as patches or NURBS surfaces, they must first be converted to polygon meshes. Non-polygon mesh objects are replaced by null objects in the resulting hierarchy.

You should always convert a complex polygon into triangles before applying MultiSlice. Select the polygon mesh object and choose the Effect->Convert command.

The cross-sectional pieces that are created in the slicing operation are not further sliced by other polygons in the slicing hierarchy: MultiSlice works best when making almost parallel cuts into objects.

If the model is animated, such as along a path, then the geometry of the resulting object is correct, but it does not inherit the path animation. If this is desired, simply copy the animation from the model to the result using the usual SOFTIMAGE 3D tools or AnimateTransform.

The Effects->MultiAnimatedSlice in the Motion module is the animated version of this effect.

Procedure

1. Create a SOFTIMAGE 3D hierarchy and a hierarchy of slicing polygon meshes.
   
   Construct the slicing hierarchy as follows: each polygon mesh in the hierarchy should be composed of one or more polygons, each acting as a slicing plane on the model being sliced.
   
   Each polygon cuts out the portion of the object on the side opposite the direction of the polygon's normal. To create a new object that is a midsection cut of another object, merge together two 1 x 1 grids that are offset from each other and have normals pointing toward each other. Then position this in the middle of the object and apply MultiSlice.
   
   The results of slicing the hierarchy in this way, by each model of the slicing hierarchy, are then brought together into one final result.
   
   
2. Choose the Effect->MultiSlice command in the Model module. The MultiSlice dialogue box is displayed.
3. Set the parameters as desired.

The parameters are the same as in the Effect->Slice dialogue box.

Last updated 02-apr-1998