I modelled some things in the spline modeller and then converted them, used subdivision set to 1 and 2 and the model appeared to have "ripples" in it. How can I avoid this? So I went to the vertex modeller but found it difficult to select portions that were "inside" the model (for texture reasons). Is there a "grow" selection feature in C3 that I just can't find? Thanks

I almost stopped using the spline modeller, myself, for one of those problems. It has a strange ability to create visible breaks in the flow of the mesh where a cross-section was inserted. It also doesn't translate as smoothly into mesh as a polyline extruded or path swept within the vertex modeller (although you lose the ability to adjust both path and envelope, and to keep the thing editable, too). Better to say I stopped using the spline modeller for anything I was going to continue in the vertex modeller. It works great for stand-alone stuff (like all those set-dressing bits of cable, brackets, candlesticks, finials, crown moldings...) To select inside a model you could; a) select everything that's outside and hide the selection; b) go to wire-frame mode and click very carfully one by one; and sometimes you can c) set the right propagating selection angle and double-click on edges leading into the difficult zone -- Carrara will extend the selection along edges that lie along roughly the same line, and you can get into many corners that way.

Thanks for the help...I'll try hiding for better visibility and work in wireframe.

I know you know this stuff.... But sometimes it helps if you have a symmetrical object to just throw away half of it, do the clean-up on the remainder then duplicate and weld. Or trash the thickness, clean up the shell, then "Add thickness" to rebuild it. etc., etc.

Thanks again...it's always helpful to be reminded of alternative methods...thanks

Chris, could you show a before-after image. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by ripples. I've had pretty good luck doing conversions. Although I'm sure you did, I have to ask this basic question: Did you increase the fidelity of the spline object prior to your vertex conversion? Mark

Hmmmmmm, I see what you're talking about. I haven't had that issue before. I'd be happy to take a look at the spline file if you want and see if I can figure it out. Mark

One thing that can really mess you up in the spline modeller is a curve point with invisibly small arms. Sometimes those little dudes can even be reversed, which just throws the whole mesh into a loop at that spot. Only way I found around it was to carefully click any points that were supposed to be straight -- without moving the cursor in the slightlest during the click.

Yep. Gut reaction is there is a combination of smoothed edges along with normals which are goofed. -Kix

Did you perhaps twist the mesh slightly at that point?

Hrm. I've found in working with the spline modeller that it doesn't always "get" the point-to-point. Sometimes it insists on linking points that are off in some other part of the cross-section. This does look, as falcon points out, very much like the connection is rotated; point 1 connected to point 2, point 2 connected to point 3, etc. I've sometimes cleaned up that sort of problem by deleting the problem cross-sections and re-duplicating the section before. But I would also be very tempted, especially on a simple shape like this, to do the whole thing in vertex modeller in first place where you see the final polys as they are created and can fix strange links immediately.