Face Identification PropertyManager

You create sub-meshes that you later extract as analytic or non-analytic surfaces.

The goal is to separate areas of specific design intent, for example: areas that are planes, cylinders, cones, b-surfaces, etc. Each specific area must be its own sub-mesh, as indicated by the different colors. You then refine the design intent using paint tools to split sub-meshes or join separate sub-meshes. Areas designed for b-surfaces require more attention to remove inappropriate curvature and jagged edges.

Automatic Painting

• Select sub-mesh to decompose. Activates Automatic Painting for the selected sub-mesh.

• Sensitivity. Dynamically updates the preview of the selected sub-mesh when you move the slider. When you first open the PropertyManager, the entire model is pre-selected, so Sensitivity affects all sub-meshes. This is the only time that all sub-meshes are group selected, so be sure you have adjusted Sensitivity as desired before you click Apply.
  
  Sensitivity sets the maximum angle of incidence permitted between triangles, measures the angles, then joins or separates triangles based on the setting.

• Apply. Creates sub-meshes based on the Sensitivity setting and the graphics area display.

• Cancel. Cancels Automatic Painting and clears the selected sub-mesh.

Manual Painting

(Available when no sub-meshes are selected for Select sub-mesh to decompose under Automatic Painting.)

Paint color

• Selected color (The color varies.)

• Pick color from model

• New Color. Select a new color or create a custom color.

Paint tools

• Paint brush . Paints the selected color over local areas of sub-meshes.

• Paint can . Fills the entire sub-mesh with the selected color.

To identify faces and create sub-meshes:

1. When the Face Identification PropertyManager opens, the entire mesh is pre-selected and decomposed into sub-meshes, which are indicated by different colors. The sub-meshes are not yet created.

In this example, you want the face shown to extract as one cylindrical surface, so you want one sub-mesh for it instead of the multiple sub-meshes shown.

2. Under Automatic Painting, move the Sensitivity slider to achieve the design intent as much as possible.

To skip Automatic Painting and go straight to Manual Painting, click Cancel under Automatic Painting, then use the Paint tools under Manual Painting.

In this example, you move the slider to the right to increase sensitivity, resulting in one sub-mesh for the face. Note that the top section is also now one individual sub-mesh.

3. Inspect the entire model to verify design intent.

In this example, when you view the other side of the mesh, there are multiple sub-meshes, including a sub-mesh joined to the blue colored sub-mesh on this side. You want two separate sub-meshes, one for each side.

4. Try adjusting Sensitivity to achieve the desired design intent.

If you are unable to separate the areas to match your design intent, you need to do manual painting. In this example, you need to do manual painting.

5. Click Apply to create the sub-meshes.

6. Under Manual Painting, select a color depending on your goal, and a paint tool.

7. In this example, you first need to use the Paint brush to paint the edges red to separate the blue sub-meshes.

8. Use the Paint can to paint the sub-meshes as one color, other than blue, which was used on the other face.

9. Clean up any remaining sub-meshes to achieve the design intent. In this example, you use the Paint brush again.

10. Click .