Lesson VII - Modifying Shapes In The 2D Shaper (Part I)
In this lesson you will learn how to modify shapes in the 2D Shaper. After learning how to create basic shapes, we will now learn how to create more complex shapes by modifying the basic shapes. We shall explore the the Vertex... submenu in the Modify menu in this lesson. First access the 2D Shaper by hitting the "F1" key on your keyboard. Then click on the shapes function Modify. This will bring up a list of commands and submenus. Click on the Vertex... submenu. You will see the following commands : Move, Rotate, Scale, Skew, Adjust, Linear, Curve, Weld and Delete. We shall discuss these commands in an interactive tutorial.

The Move Command
This basically moves vertices to change the form of shapes. You can move a single vertex or multiple vertices. To move multiple vertices you will need to select them by using commands in the Select menu (discussed in another lesson). The movement of the vertex or vertices can be restrained to horizontal or vertical movement (as with many other commands). This is done by pressing the "Tab" key on your keyboard. Moving a vertex changes the shape it belongs to because the vertex locations define a shape. To use this command, click Move and move your mouse cursor over to the viewport . Then, click on a vertex or a selection of vertices. The vertex/vertices move in accordance to your mouse movements. Move the vertex/vertices to the desired location and click again. The vertex is placed and the shape would be changed. Note : If you select all the vertices on a shape and move it using this command it is similar to using the Modify/Polygon/Move command.

The Rotate Command
This command rotates vertices relative to either the global axis or it's local axis. The global axis is the center point in 3D space and has the (0,0,0) coordinates. The local axis of a shape or object is the center of that object. If the shape is made of linear lines then rotating a vertex has no effect. However if you turn the local axis off then The vertex will be rotated relative to the global axis. On curved lines rotating a single vertex will have some effect - try it. This command can be used to rotate a single vertex or a selection of vertices. To use the rotate command, click Rotate and click on the target vertex/vertices. Then move your move around. The vertex/vertices will be rotated.

The Scale Command
This command is used to scale selection of vertices in the 2D Shaper. It cannot be used to scale a single vertex relative to it's local axis. However, scaling a single vertex relative to the global axis causes it to be scaled in distance from the global axis. Therefore, this command is best used with a selection of vertices. The scale is measured by percentage and can be constrained to a horizontal or vertical scale using the "Tab" key. To use this command, click Scale and click on the target vertex or selection of vertices. Then, move your mouse around. The vertex/vertices will be scaled accordingly.

The Skew Command
This command basically skews the vertex relative to the Y or X axis. This can only be done using a global axis. If you do a skew using a local axis you will get an error message. The command moves the vertex or vertices on a line parallel to the Y or X axis. The axis that is used can be selected by using the "Tab" key. To skew an vertex or selection of vertices relative to the global axis, click the Skew command. Then, click on the target vertex or selection of vertices. Move your mouse left and right (for X axis skewing) or up and down (for Y axis skewing).

The Adjust Command
This command Adjusts the spline values of a vertex. When a vertex is joined to another it is joined by a straight line. The two vertices specify the straight line because of the way they relate to each other. The first vertex points directly to the second and vice versa. If the first vertex points slightly above the second then the line connecting the two vertices will first curve up before coming down to join to the second vertex. Adjusting the length of these pointers will also have an effect on the connecting line. This concept is better understood once you experiment with real vertices. The Adjust command basically moves these pointers (arrows) to manipulate how a vertex points to another. To use the adjust command click Adjust in the Vertex... submenu. Then, click and hold on a single vertex. You will see two arrows of different colors (red and yellow). By moving the mouse you can manipulate the angle and the length of the arrows. To manipulate a single arrow, hold alt while manipulating the vertex. When you move your mouse, only a single arrow will be affected. To move the vertex while you are adjusting it, hold down the ctrl key while you move your mouse.

The Linear Command
This command realigns the pointer arrows(spline values) on the target vertex so that it points directly to the vertices it is connected to. This results in the connecting lines(segments) straightening. The lines that connect the vertex to others become linear. To use this command, click Linear and click the target vertex. The spline values will automatically readjust to form linear lines.

The Curve Command
This command is used to curve connecting lines from a target vertex. This is done by realigning the spline value (pointer arrows) to form a natural curve. The curve will be based upon the location of the target vertex and the connected vertices. To use this command, click Curve and click the target vertex. The spline value will automatically be adjusted to form curve lines from the target vertex.

The Weld Command
This command is used to weld two separate vertices so that they become one vertex. When this happens, the separate shapes that the vertices belong to becomes one or if they belong to the same shape then the shape becomes closed. To use this command, click Weld and click on the target vertex. You can move the vertex to the other vertex to which it will be welded by moving the mouse cursor(which is now a floating vertex connected to the previous vertex). When you place the vertex on the second vertex and click you will be asked if you wish to weld the vertices. Click "Yes" and the a new vertex will be formed where the two vertices previously was located.

The Delete Command
This command does just what it's expected to - delete vertices. Deleting a vertex causes it to disappear. If it is at the end of a shape then the connecting line will disappear. If it is located along a line of vertices then the two other vertices that it was connected to will be joined. To use this command, click Delete and click on a vertex. That vertex will be deleted.

3D Studio MAX
There are similar commands found in 3D Studio MAX. Therefore it is advisable to read the content above because the commands in 3DS MAX function in the same way. These commands are found under the Modify tab when you select a vertex or select and object then click "Sub-Object" and select "Vertex".

This concludes the first part of the lessons related to the Modify menu which discussed the Vertex... submenu. We will explore another submenu in the next lesson.

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