About each function of [Selected]

Metasequoia 4 provides some methods to create faces. In this article, we will introduce functions to edit a rough mesh rather than smooth primitive shapes or armatures.

(1) How to create a rough surface

a. Landscape

By [Create > Landscape] in [Object] menu, you can create a rough mesh from fractal noise image.

*You can import the actual topographic map image file from [Load File]. It is necessary to represent differences in elevation by grayscale.

Edit a rough surface

Use [Magnet] command if you want to edit randomly created faces. It can be deformed while holding the unevenness to some extent.

First, click [Set the range] to switch to range setting mode. Drag on the object to adjust the range of influence of [Magnet].

Click on a vertex and move it up and down with the handle. You can transform it into mountains and valleys while keeping to a certain extent the irregularities.
Please do not move it at once. It will be easier to leave unevenness if you lift it in small increments.

Color it by [Paint] or [Vertex color] command. The simple terrain object has been completed.

b. [Sculpt] command

If you want to create a topographic map from one plane, it is recommended to use [Sculpt] command. By [Sculpt], you can create objects like creating clay work.

This method is more time consuming than using [Landscape]. However, you can create shapes as you like, rather than random generation.

(2) Smooth a rough surface

Next is the opposite topic. Flatten a rough surface.

a. Flatten

In [Selected] menu, [Flatten] is a function to make the surface smooth.
It differs from the apparent "smoothing" in [Object Property]. This function moves the vertices actually to smooth the surface.

Let's execute [Selected > Flatten] with selecting some range on the uneven surface.

There are two methods for [Flatten]. Both can adjust the amount of effect while checking the result of smoothing.

Flatten	Wide smoothing

Example of using smoothing

Let's use this function to remove scratches on objects captured with a 3D scanner.

1. It is mug object captured by 3D scanner. There are unevenness due to noise during scanning.
   
2. Select the part you want to fix by [Rope] or [Brush].
   
3. Apply [Wide Smoothing]. The scratches will not be noticeable.
   

b. [Sculpt] command

Small scratches quickly disappeared with [Wide Smoothing], but it may seem too smooth and unnatural. Or, the design of the details may disappear.

If you want to fix more details, use [Sculpt] command to make corrections manually.

Select a [Smooth] brush and drag the unevenness on the object with the mouse to correct them smoothly.

Fix the unevenness to be less noticeable while adjusting the brush size on sub panel.

c. Planation

Finally, I will introduce [Selected > Planation].

The two functions mentioned earlier smooth the surface while retaining the original shape.
On the other hand, [Planation] aligns all the vertices in the selection and makes them completely flat.

With this function, you can bevel a curved object such as a sphere or an armature.

How to create a horseshoe

Select the tip of the foot		Planation		Extrude and shaping