Gridify

MaxScript Release 0.5 Source (4/24/2003)

MaxScript Release 0.4 Source (2/25/2000)

MaxScript Release 0.3 Source (12/10/1998)

SHORT DESCRIPTION

Gridify is a polygon modeling utility that lets you split whole meshes or face selections into smaller segments.
It is very useful for increasing mesh detail when working with low-poly models and MeshSmooth.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Gridify uses Slice planes to cut the mesh into up to 20 segments in each direction.
After each slicing, it requires the mesh to be collapsed so the next slicing can take place.

FEATURES AND VERSION HISTORY

Version 0.5 for MAX 4.x and 5.x (4/24/03)

This version has the checkbox "Split To Elements" added in v0.45 which allows you to explode the grid into single quads.
All Slice Planes will be added with Operate On Poly option for better meshing.
Reformatted the code for readability.

Version 0.45 for MAX 4.x (2/21/01)

This "recompile" for Max 4 was available to some people but somehow never appeared on this page.
Added a checkbox "Split To Elements" which allows you to explode the grid into single quads.

Beta 0.4 for MAX 3.1 (2/25/00)

The MAX 3.x version is implemented as MacroScript. Evaluate the source, customize a toolbar and drag the button from the Bobo_s Tools category.
Version 0.4 does not require separate controls for Mesh Selection. It operates from a floater and requires the Modify Tab in the Command Panel to be active. This means that the user can set a face selection anytime WHILE working with Gridify. If there is an active Face Selection in Command Panel, it will be used. I can be in an Edit(able) Mesh or MeshSelect...
Using high slice values (over 10) can be slower than in 2.5 because of the slower Command Panel updates. All other controls work as before.

Beta 0.3 for MAX 2.5 (12/10/98)

Press the [Pick Object] button to select the Mesh to be gridified. After selecting the object, its name appears on the button. The Object should be convertible to mesh. It will be NOT converted to EditableMesh until you specify so.
The [Set Face Selection] button lets you quickly add an MeshSelect modifier to the selected object and switches to Modifier Tab so you can select faces to be used by the utility. You can select faces manually if you wish. The Utility will check for existing modifiers on the stack and will ask you to collapse the stack first before adding a new MeshSelect Modifier. If you answer with no, no changes will be made.
The [Use Face Selection] checkbutton is unchecked by default. Check it (turns red) to use any available face selection in the Object. When the button is unchecked, the whole mesh is sliced. This very powerful feature lets you increase detail on face level - select a single face or quad and split it up to 20x20 times to perform additional modeling operations without affecting the rest of the mesh.
The 3 Groups let you control the number of slicing planes along the X, Y and Z axis separately. All 3 have identical controls:
The On checkbox is deactivated by default. If you check it, the currently set number of slicing planes are generated. If you uncheck it, the slicing planes are deleted again. If the Use Face Selection checkbutton is active, the planes will affect the selected faces only.
The # value field lets you set the number of segments to be generated - 2 creates one slicing plane, 20 generates 19 planes. You can change the number anytime INTERACTIVELY to adjust the number of planes. You should work in either Wireframe or Shaded mode with Edged Faces to see the result in the viewports. When the value comes over 10, interactivity might be reduced on slower machines.
The next value is used to set the OFFSET of the slicing planes. The offset range is in percent of the width of a single segment. (-99 to 99 %) (see animation below)

The MIN and MAX checkbuttons and the numeric value between them are used to set a BIAS of the planes - this is an experimental feature in Beta 0.3 and might not make much sense. It slides the slicing planes increasingly closer to each-other and allows for variable segment size. (see animation below). The checkbuttons can be checked individually or be both unchecked (default). They cannot be checked together at the same time.