Current Version : 1.61, 07 April 2007

The PolyMesh plugin brings the box modeling feature to Art of Illusion. Inspired by Wings, the PolyMesh plugin uses ngons for solid representation.

In addition to the AoI native triangle mesh primitive, PolyMesh brings ngons modelling capabilities to Art of Illusion. Like Wings, it is based on the so-called winged-edge mesh data structure. However, it has evolved in a different way than just a Wings copy-cat. The main difference is that polymeshes work as well with volumic as well as with planar meshes.

The PolyMesh plugin now features an extensive set of modelling tools which are too numerous to be listed here, but here are the most important ones :

• Easy to use 3D manipulators for selection translation, rotation, scaling, etc.
  
• Merge, divide, collapse elements
• Extrude edges or faces (indivual or region)
• Bevel vertices or edges
• Join boundaries (aka bridge)
• Edge loop/strip support
  
• Subdivision smoothing based on Catmull-clark algorithm spiced with variable edge smoothing
• Mirror modeling up to 3 simultaneous mirrors which allow modelling only one eighth of the model
• A Tentacle tool to extrude face regions along a path
• A freehand Draw Faces tool to draw faces clicking the vertices directly on the view window. To use in conjunction with reference images.
• A Sew tool to stitch together faces when the mesh is designed piece by piece
• A Knife tool to create vertices along a freehand cut path
• ABF++ Mesh unwrapping and UV mapping

Have a look at the Tutorials section where you'll see the PolyMesh plugin in action. And if you want to learn its use in depth, the PolyMesh section in the Articles department includes detailed descriptions of several PolyMesh commands.

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