3dsmax - Detaching keeping normals?

NAIMA

Hello , is there a way to detach a set of faces into an object from a bigger mesh and preserve the same normal orientations at the edges with the neightbouring polygons?
Because everytime I detach , the normals get differently oriented.
Or is there a way to unify normals after eventually?

Thanks for any answer.

Noren

You can apply the edit normals modifier to several meshes at once and average the normals along the seam.

Or you could split the edges and average the normals when it's still the same object. 
The trick is to not use detach after that, but tp copy the object and delete the not needed faces respectively. 

Unless you need the edited normals for baking etc., it's the best to wait as long as possible before editing them because they get scrambled easily. 

Obscura

Unfortunately not or at least I haven't find a way... What you can do is to project them back with something like the NormalThief. If that doesn't work well, then no idea, sry.

NAIMA

where I find normal thief?

monster

It's pretty easy.

1. Just add an Edit Normal Modifier.
2. Select all normals and click Make Explicit
3. Go under the Edit Normal mod and detach as needed.
4. The normals will appear to break, but they will be saved when you go back up to the Edit Normal modifier.

soulstice

Hey Monster, whats the script you use where you can search for a funciton in your gif? That looks handy.

Obscura

Very Interesting. Thx!

Eric Chadwick

soulstice said:

Hey Monster, whats the script you use where you can search for a funciton in your gif? That looks handy.

http://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMAX/2015/ENU/?guid=GUID-915F3EE9-DCBD-448B-B379-8E2BE38179B3

Eric Chadwick

Great trick monster!

Added to the list of info here
http://wiki.polycount.com/wiki/VertexNormal#3ds_Max_Restrictions

NAIMA

thankyou , nice to have partecipated rising a new subject for the wiki .

cptSwing

Aye, good idea monster. This might also help (have used it successfully in the past): http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/vertex-normals-stitcher

Obscura

Wow this is even better because it allows you to detach to separated meshes. Thx!

soulstice

Thanks Monster, and awesome trick btw

NAIMA

Ok I tried and it didn't work , for detaching I meant , detaching to object and not to element ... is it possible topreserve normal orientation once detached a face  as an object ?

Obscura

The script that cptswing linked, should work when you detach to object.

Eric Chadwick

Or, instead of detaching to object... Copy the model and delete the parts you don't want. I think Monster explained that above.

NAIMA

I will try that.

Mark Dygert

Autodesk needs to spend a dev cycle and work on the tools that allow you to edit normals and incorporate some of the ideas behind these scripts and give people some out of the box tools, so they can work around these issues without so much hack-a-dash... 

Obscura

Yeah...Actually it takes a lot of time to live together with the workarounds.

To-mos

It should be noted that the 'X' key toggles the transform gizmo off and on for 3dsmax before version 2014. Those who remember it's annoying existence will know why it was changed to open search.