Editable Mesh or Editable Poly?

[spacegroo]

They are similar but not the same. EPoly is generally considered superior, as it introduces a number of tools not available in EMesh: Edge and Loop selections, enhanced extrude and bevel operands, etc. It is also more taxing memory-wise, but I've never found that to be a problem so far in my own work. (One can always apply a Mesh Select on top of an Editable Poly to convert it back to a Mesh). Also, tools like Cut work great in EPoly whereas Max 3's EMesh would create unwanted vertices, and the list goes on. There are disadvantages to EPoly, as it is more restrictive than EMesh, but overall those restrictions prevent you from screwing up a model. As a game artist, I sometimes need the flexibility of EMesh, but in most instances EPoly would work just fine for me. Oh, and currently there is only Editable Poly but no Edit Poly modifier, but that may change in future releases.

Generally, the two are interchangeable, as you can convert from Mesh to Poly and back again in most cases. So they aren't as fundamentally different as Editable Spline and Editable Mesh.

-josh

[conio]

Its really a GREAT difference!

Most of the tools for edititing editable poly objects arent available in editable mesh objects.

editable poly = real polygons (polygons have no interior edges and are rendered smooth)

editable mesh = tri-mesh (all polygons with more the 3 vertices consist out of faces so you have an invisible edge running through it)

...just my $0.02 :wavey:

[Danimation 3D]

Im following a tutorial right now that is using ver.5. In it they are modeling using Editable Poly. With that they are moving the verts while in NURBS. Since I only have ver.3, I added a meshsmooth mod to my editable mesh. However I can't seem to move the verts while I have the meshsmooth on. Do you guys know a solution? Thanks

[spacegroo]

Yes. Upgrade to Max 5. Features have changed and have been expanded, as is the case with Meshsmooth. BTW, it's NURMS not NURBS that Meshsmooth uses.
-josh

[Marsel Khadiyev]

Editable poly has definite workflow/modeling advantages, but meshes are faster to display (triangle strips).

If you can, model in poly, then convert to mesh for optimal performance.

[FatAssasin]

However I can't seem to move the verts while I have the meshsmooth on. Do you guys know a solution? Thanks

Click on the "Show end result on/off toggle" button when you're editing the mesh. It kind of looks like a half filled test tube and is under the modifier window. This will let you see the low poly version and the smoothed version at the same time. There shouldn't be any reason that you can't move the verts at all with a Meshsmooth modifier. Hope that helps.

[spacegroo]

Originally posted by FatAssasin
Click on the "Show end result on/off toggle" button when you're editing the mesh. It kind of looks like a half filled test tube and is under the modifier window. This will let you see the low poly version and the smoothed version at the same time. There shouldn't be any reason that you can't move the verts at all with a Meshsmooth modifier. Hope that helps.

This is definitely true. But Meshsmooth in Max 5 (and possibly 4) allows you to move vertices within the Meshsmooth modifier itself (i.e. selecting the Vertex subobject of Meshsmooth and moving it, rather than moving a vertex further down in the stack). If the tutorial you saw was utilizing this newer Meshsmooth feature, then you will need to work around it in Max 3. The method FatAssassin referred to is how many artists work.

[Danimation 3D]

Thanks spacegroo and FatAssassin. I guess I will have to work around their version. Im still a newbie, and the tips sure help! Cheers:thumbsup:

[tcomputerchip]

Dont upgrade yet, wait for version 6.0. It should be out by the end of the year.

just a thought :)

http://www.discreet.com/products/3dsmax6/

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