Visual Reality: Tutorials: Hexagon

Using the Bender Tool

Like the Bend tool, the Bender tool enables you to bend an object. However, you don't have to use a line or curve as a basis. Instead, you click and drag the object's bender bounding box. You can specify whether to bend the object along the X, Y, or Z axis.

The results of using the Bender tool to bend a a simple, non-tessallated cube with a maximum angle value of 1.		After applying the Quad Tessellation tool to the cube twice, the bend tool curves the edges.

Although you can bend any object with the Bender tool, even a simple six-polygon cube, adding additional facets can allow better results for more severe bends. You can use the tessellation and edge tools to create additional facets as needed, whether that's across the entire model or just in one specific section.

1. In the Selection Mode palette, click the Select Object button .

Note: Although Hexagon will bend objects with minimal facets like a simple cube, you'll get much better results by adding additional facets to low-polygon or primitive objects before applying the Bender tool.
 

2. On the Utilities tab, click the Bender button .

The Bender tool Tool Properties panel.

3. In the Tool Properties panel, select the axis along which to bend the object.

X axis -- bends side to side
Y axis -- bends forward and backward
Z axis -- bends up and down

Note: Depending on your current view and which axis you select, it might be necessary to change your view before you can bend the object.
 

4. Click one of the yellow sides of the bounding box, and then drag the object to bend it.
   
   OR
   
   Type values into the Min Angle and Max Angle fields in the Tool Properties panel to bend the object using a ratio of minimum and maximum angles.
   
   OR
   
   Use the sliders in the Tool Properties panel to set the Min Angle and Max Angle fields.

Min Angle -- minimum angle to bend the object
Max Angle -- maximum angle to bend the object
 


5. Press Enter or click Validate to apply the change and close the tool.

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