3DS Max 2016 - Quad Chamfer - YouTube

Quad Chamfer in 3ds Max 2016: A Guide for Beginners

Quad chamfer is a feature in 3ds Max that allows you to create smooth and rounded edges between two surfaces, using quads instead of triangles. Quads are four-sided polygons that are more suitable for subdivision and smoothing than triangles, which can cause pinching and artifacts. Quad chamfer was introduced in 3ds Max 2015 and improved in 3ds Max 2016 with more options and functionality. In this article, you will learn how to use quad chamfer in 3ds Max 2016, what are the benefits and drawbacks of this feature, and some tips and tricks to get the best results.

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What is Quad Chamfer?

Quad chamfer is a modifier that can be applied to any editable poly or editable mesh object in 3ds Max. It works by creating a chamfer or bevel along the selected edges of the object, using quads instead of triangles. The quad chamfer modifier has several parameters that control the shape, size, and quality of the chamfer, such as:

• Amount: The distance from the original edge to the new edge created by the chamfer.

• Segments: The number of subdivisions along the chamfer.

• Tension: The curvature of the chamfer. A higher tension creates a sharper chamfer, while a lower tension creates a smoother chamfer.

• Inset: The distance from the original face to the new face created by the chamfer.

• Corner Type: The shape of the corner where three or more edges meet. There are four options: Quad, Triangle, Radial, and Patch.

• Chamfer Type: The method used to create the quads. There are three options: Standard, Uniform, and Radial.

• Options: Additional settings that affect the appearance and behavior of the chamfer, such as smoothing groups, material IDs, edge weights, edge selection, etc.

Why Use Quad Chamfer?

Quad chamfer has several advantages over the traditional chamfer modifier or tool in 3ds Max. Some of them are:

• It creates cleaner and more uniform geometry that is easier to edit and manipulate.

• It preserves the original topology of the object and does not add unnecessary vertices or edges.

• It reduces the risk of pinching and artifacts when applying subdivision or smoothing modifiers.

• It improves the shading and rendering quality of the object by creating smoother transitions between faces.

• It allows more control and flexibility over the shape and size of the chamfer with various parameters and options.

How to Use Quad Chamfer?

To use quad chamfer in 3ds Max 2016, follow these steps:

• Select an editable poly or editable mesh object in your scene.

• In the Modify panel, click on the Modifier List and choose Quad Chamfer from the list.

• In the Quad Chamfer rollout, adjust the parameters to achieve the desired result. You can also use the gizmo in the viewport to interactively change the amount and tension of the chamfer.

• If you want to apply quad chamfer to specific edges only, you can use the Edge Selection rollout to select or deselect edges by angle, loop, ring, border, etc.

• If you want to fine-tune the shape of individual edges or corners, you can use the Edge Weights rollout to assign different weights to them. A higher weight creates a sharper edge or corner, while a lower weight creates a smoother edge or corner.

Quad Chamfer Examples

To illustrate how quad chamfer works and what kind of results it can produce, here are some examples of applying quad chamfer to different objects with different settings.

Cube with Standard Chamfer Type

This example shows a simple cube with quad chamfer applied using the standard chamfer type. The standard chamfer type creates quads by connecting the midpoints of adjacent edges. This is the default and most common option for quad chamfer.

Original ObjectQuad Chamfer ModifierResult

<img src="cube_original.png" alt="Cube original Cylinder with Uniform Chamfer Type

This example shows a cylinder with quad chamfer applied using the uniform chamfer type. The uniform chamfer type creates quads by dividing the original edges into equal segments. This option can create more even and consistent quads, especially for curved surfaces.

Original ObjectQuad Chamfer ModifierResult

Amount: 0Amount: 10Segments: 2Tension: 0.5Inset: 0Corner Type: QuadChamfer Type: Uniform

Torus with Radial Chamfer Type

This example shows a torus with quad chamfer applied using the radial chamfer type. The radial chamfer type creates quads by projecting the original edges onto a circle. This option can create more circular and smooth quads, especially for tubular surfaces.

Original ObjectQuad Chamfer ModifierResult

Amount: 0Amount: 10Segments: 2Tension: 0.5Inset: 0Corner Type: QuadChamfer Type: Radial

Quad Chamfer Limitations and Drawbacks

While quad chamfer is a powerful and useful feature in 3ds Max, it is not perfect and has some limitations and drawbacks that you should be aware of. Some of them are:

• It can create non-planar quads that can cause shading issues or distortions when applying modifiers or rendering.

• It can create overlapping or intersecting quads that can cause mesh errors or artifacts.

• It can create uneven or irregular quads that can affect the quality and performance of the mesh.

• It can create too many or too few quads that can affect the level of detail and optimization of the mesh.

• It can create unwanted or unnecessary quads that can affect the topology and flow of the mesh.

Quad Chamfer Tips and Tricks

To avoid or minimize the limitations and drawbacks of quad chamfer, here are some tips and tricks that you can use to get the best results:

• Use a reasonable amount and segments for the chamfer. Too high or too low values can create problems or poor results.

• Use a suitable tension and inset for the chamfer. Too high or too low values can create sharp or flat chamfers that are not realistic or desirable.

• Use a appropriate corner type and chamfer type for the chamfer. Different types can create different shapes and effects for the chamfer.

• Use edge selection and edge weights to control which edges or corners are affected by the chamfer. You can also use edge creases to preserve sharp edges or corners.

• Use options such as smoothing groups, material IDs, edge removal, etc. to adjust the appearance and behavior of the chamfer.

• Use modifiers such as TurboSmooth, MeshSmooth, Relax, etc. to refine and improve the quality of the chamfer.

• Use tools such as Cut, Connect, Weld, Target Weld, etc. to edit and fix the geometry of the chamfer.

• Use tools such as Check, STL Check, XView, etc. to check and correct any errors or issues with the chamfer.

Conclusion

In conclusion, quad chamfer is a feature in 3ds Max that allows you to create smooth and rounded edges between two surfaces, using quads instead of triangles. It has several benefits over the traditional chamfer modifier or tool, such as cleaner and more uniform geometry, better subdivision and smoothing quality, and more control and flexibility over the shape and size of the chamfer. However, it also also has some limitations and drawbacks, such as non-planar or overlapping quads, shading or mesh errors, and unwanted or unnecessary quads. Therefore, you should use quad chamfer wisely and carefully, and follow some tips and tricks to get the best results. Quad chamfer is a powerful and useful feature in 3ds Max that can enhance your modeling and rendering workflow, if you know how to use it properly.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about quad chamfer in 3ds Max:

Q: How do I access quad chamfer in 3ds Max?

A: You can access quad chamfer in 3ds Max by selecting an editable poly or editable mesh object, and then choosing Quad Chamfer from the Modifier List in the Modify panel. You can also access it by right-clicking on an edge or a selection of edges in the viewport, and choosing Quad Chamfer from the Quad menu.

Q: What is the difference between quad chamfer and regular chamfer?

A: The main difference between quad chamfer and regular chamfer is that quad chamfer creates quads (four-sided polygons) along the chamfered edges, while regular chamfer creates triangles (three-sided polygons). Quads are more suitable for subdivision and smoothing than triangles, which can cause pinching and artifacts. Quads also preserve the original topology of the object and do not add unnecessary vertices or edges.

Q: What are the best settings for quad chamfer?

A: The best settings for quad chamfer depend on the type and shape of the object, the desired result, and the personal preference of the user. However, some general guidelines are to use a reasonable amount and segments for the chamfer, a suitable tension and inset for the curvature, an appropriate corner type and chamfer type for the shape, and edge selection and edge weights to control which edges or corners are affected by the chamfer.

Q: How do I fix errors or issues with quad chamfer?

A: If you encounter any errors or issues with quad chamfer, such as non-planar or overlapping quads, shading or mesh errors, or unwanted or unnecessary quads, you can try to fix them by using modifiers such as TurboSmooth, MeshSmooth, Relax, etc. to refine and improve the quality of the chamfer, tools such as Cut, Connect, Weld, Target Weld, etc. to edit and fix the geometry of the chamfer, or tools such as Check, STL Check, XView, etc. to check and correct any errors or issues with the chamfer.

Q: Can I use quad chamfer for other purposes than creating smooth edges?

A: Yes, you can use quad chamfer for other purposes than creating smooth edges. For example, you can use it to create grooves or indents along an object, to create decorative patterns or details on a surface, to create hard surface models with sharp edges, etc. Quad chamfer is a versatile feature that can be used creatively for various modeling and rendering tasks. dcd2dc6462