How Do You Add Rows or Columns to a Surface?

 

A surface is shaped by moving the edit points at the intersections of all rows and columns. If you need additional control over the surface, the only way to do this is by adding additional full rows or full columns. You cannot add partial rows/cols or individual edit points.

 

To add additional rows or columns to a surface:

1.   Select the Surf-Add Row/Col-Add Row/Col Angle command.

2.   To add a new row, pick an insert location along any of the columns.

3.   To add a new column, pick an insert location along any of the rows.

1.   Repeat step 2 or step 3 as many times as you want. The Add row/Col angle command will stay active or current until you select another command. It will work on any visible surface.

 

Note 1: Rows or columns can be added anywhere, but they work best when the surface has fairly evenly-spaced rows or columns. A good rule to follow is to always add new rows or columns halfway between two existing rows or columns. This might require you to define more rows and columns that you want, but you will have less problems shaping and fairing the surface. If you add a row or column right next to an existing row or column, you can get loop-backs or cusps in the surface.

 

Note 2: Always rough-shape the surface after adding each row or column (using the Move Point command). This is easier than adding a lot of rows and columns and then trying to shape the surface.

 

Note 3: The program also allows you to set a row or column to be either fixed horizontally or fixed vertically. Avoid these commands until you become more experienced with the program. You can always fix or un-fix the row or column later, if needed.

 

Note 4: When you add a row or column to the surface, the surface changes shape. This must be done to keep the other rows and columns in the same location. If the program inserted a row or column without changing its shape, then it would have to move a number of the surrounding rows or columns!?!