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How to Cut + Mirror an Object (Solved)
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 2:45 pm
by Dabrowski
Hmmm... I mis-created the model to what i proposed to make. Half the gun is correct, half of it has errors. I am too lazy to redo what i did on the other side to that side. Heres something i thought i can do in XSI mod tools...
Scenario:
First i cut the model in half. Then I mirror the piece so that it is one full piece. But how do i do this? (Due note this is not a simple model)
Furthermore i have a UV map already laid out. Will this method affect the UV in any way (ie do i have to redo it?) And second will it overlap mirrored peices in the txture (if so that would be great actually)?
RE: How to Cut + Mirror an Object
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:16 pm
by JabbaLovesLava
There is an easy way to do it, but the UVs get erased. I don't remeber how to do it exactly, but mainly you do:
1) Crete a cube that is over the part of the gun you dont want.
2) Select the gun
3) Crete-> Poly. Mesh-> Boolean
4) Select the cube
5) On the popup box select the "delete" option (not exact name)
6) Select the remaining half of the gun.
7) Mirror ir by going Modify -> Poly. Mesh -> Mirror (I think, not sure. I forgot ^_^)
RE: How to Cut + Mirror an Object
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:22 pm
by t551
If the hypothetical "mirror" is one of the reference plaes (XY,YZ,XZ) then you can do this (however, I doubt very much that this method will preserve uv maps) I also highly recommend saving your model as another file before doing this. :
Select your model, and press 'u' to go into polygon edit mode. Delete every polygon on the messed-up side (if some polygons span the "mirror", use the knife tool{left bracket}, and draw a line exactly down the axis. This will make sure that you have an edge on the axis in all polygons that span the axis, but you may still need to adjust the points created by this method to lie exactly on the mirror). You should now have half of your model.
Now hit spacebar, then go Edit => Duplicate => Duplicate symmetry, and choose the plane that will be your mirror. Hit ok to duplicate.
You now have two polymeshes, at least one of which is textured(I think both will be textured,but I'm doing this from my head.) The kicker is that if this is a unit model, it needs to be 1 polymesh. With both selected, on the left toolbar, go Create => Polymsh. => Merge. In the popup, turn "tolerance" down to zero, and press delete inputs. You will now have a single polymesh, however, It will almost certainly be untextured.
RE: How to Cut + Mirror an Object
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:27 pm
by JabbaLovesLava
yea, that's what i mean, only that instead of deleting the polygons manually you use boolean. It saves time

RE: How to Cut + Mirror an Object
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:35 pm
by t551
Sorry, I think you posted while I was writing mine... And yours is simpler, so I'll go with that from now on.
RE: How to Cut + Mirror an Object
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:36 pm
by JabbaLovesLava
No need to apologize. Two ways is always better than 1!
RE: How to Cut + Mirror an Object
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:54 pm
by Dabrowski
Alright thanks to both you guys for the help.
JabbaLovesLava your first steps are extremely helpful becuase deleting polygons would not be a good strategy because my gun was rather complicated. Though for future reference for everyone, 3) needs to be "Create-> Poly. Mesh-> Boolean->Difference" and step 7) does not work. So
t551t551 provided the solution to use duplicate symmetry, which by all means worked.
Soon enough i will be able to show my models.

But not yet...
Oh and by the way. The result loses UV mapping and afterwards the model needs
line deleting to save polygons.
RE: How to Cut + Mirror an Object
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:43 pm
by JabbaLovesLava
I wasnt sure about step 7. I mean i was sure... it was wrong. But it was something like that

RE: How to Cut + Mirror an Object
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 12:24 am
by Lord-Bandu
I simple way to do it is
1st .. select all the edges along the top and bottom of the gun and press ' Ctrl +D '
- an edge should appear that wraps all around the gun ...splitting it in 2.
2nd .. In poly mode ..lassoo the half you dont want and delete.
3rd .. Go to Model> Modify >poly mesh > Symeterize polygons. In the pop up change the axis ( if need be) and make sure the Weld option is checked.
4th .. delete the Edge's you made that wrap around the model
If you dont weld then your UV's will be ok . Im pretty sure if you do weld and delete the edges that you created , it will lose its UV settings ...tho im not 100% sure , since I havent done it for a while.
I realise you have already 'solved' your problem ..but this can be helpful for others.
RE: How to Cut + Mirror an Object
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 2:06 pm
by t551
Yes, that is much more useful, since it seems like it stays one polygon, and doesn't lose it's UV maps. Thanks Bandu!