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> Working with Content > Modeling and Geometry Scripting > Modeling Tools

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Modeling Tools

Learn about the different tool categories for in-engine modeling.

Shapes

Create a new mesh using a selection of predefined primitives shown in the image below.

To learn more, see the Shapes Category documentation.

Create

Build meshes from paths or existing geometry.

Several tools, such as PolyExt and PathExt, use a grid to draw shapes. To control the position of the grid, Ctrl + Click your desired location.


Tool	Example	Description
PolyExt		Draw and extrude polygons freehand or from a selection of predefined shapes.
PathExt		Draw and extrude PolyPaths to create new meshes such as walls and ramps.
PathRev		Draw and revolve pathways around an axis to create a symmetrical mesh.
BdrRev		Revolves the mesh boundary loops to create a new shape.
Merge		Combines multiple meshes into one, keeping intersecting geometry.
Dupe		Duplicates a single mesh, creating a new Actor.
Pattern		Tile one or more selected meshes along a Line, Grid, or Circle oriented on a movable 3D plane.

PolyModel

Perform granular editing using a mesh's PolyGroups.

PolyModel stands for PolyGroup Model, not to be confused with polygon.


Tool	Example	Description
PolyEd		Opens tools, such as Extrude, Bevel, and Edge Loop, to edit meshes via PolyGroups.
PolyDef		Opens tools to deform meshes via their PolyGroups.
CubeGr		Create blockout meshes using a repositionable grid.
MshBool		Subtract or add mesh pairs.
MshCut		Split one mesh into parts using a second mesh.
SubDiv		Increase the resolution of a mesh by PolyGroups or triangles.

To learn more about these tools, see PolyModel Category.

TriModel

Perform granular editing using a mesh's triangles.

TriModel stands for Triangle Model.


Tool	Example	Description
TriSel		Quickly select triangles to edit a mesh and adjust secondary properties.
TriEd		Opens tools to edit the mesh via triangles.
HFill		Fills any holes in your mesh.
Mirror		Reflect a mesh(es) along a given plane to create new geometry.
PlnCut		Cut the selected mesh on a plane.
PolyCut		Cuts the selected mesh with extrude polygon and open tools to define the new mesh.
Trim		Trim or cut selected meshes with a second mesh.

Deform

Alter or distort a mesh as a whole or in specific areas.


Tool	Example	Description
VSculpt		Sculpt the target mesh, adjusting its vertices, using various brushes.
DSculpt		Sculpts the target mesh using various brushes and dynamically adds new geometry to the mesh through remeshing.
Smooth		Even out the surface of the mesh, helping remove jagged artifacts.
Offset		Adjust the positioning of the mesh's vertices by a specified amount along their normal.
Warp		Reshape a mesh using non-linear transforms such as Blend, Flare, and Twist.
Lattice		Edit a mesh via its vertices using a structure of points.
Displace		Distort the vertices of a mesh based on preset algorithms, user-generated weight maps, or texture maps.

To learn more about these tools, see Deform Category.

Transform

Adjust the placement or representation of a mesh.


Tool	Example	Description
XForm		Transform different aspects of the selected mesh.
Align		Repositions the selected meshes in relation to one another.
Pivot		Edit the pivot point placement on the selected mesh.
PivotAct		Adds an Actor object to the selected mesh to act as a pivot for child components. Opens tools to edit the pivot points and Actor object.
BakeRS		Bakes the scale and rotation values into the mesh. By default scale is uniformly set to 1, while rotation is uniformly set to 0.
Transfer		Transfers the data of one mesh to a target mesh or to a specific LOD used by the target mesh.
Convert		Change the Output Type of a mesh between a Static Mesh, Dynamic Mesh, or Volume.
Split		Takes a mesh with disconnected geometry and splits them into separate mesh.

VoxOps

Convert a mesh into voxels to perform volumetric operations before converting it back into a mesh.


Tool	Example	Description
VoxWrap		Wrap a selected mesh using voxels—helping remove holes as well as removing self-intersections and hidden triangles.
VoxBlnd		Blend selected meshes using voxels.
VoxMrph		Offset or inset the surface of the selected meshes using voxels.
VoxBool		Perform boolean operations on selected meshes and then wrap the result with voxels.
VoxMrg		Merges selected meshes then voxelates the result.

Attributes

Inspect and adjust the secondary properties, such as normals and PolyGroups, of a mesh.


Tool	Example	Description
Inspct		Visualize attributes, such as wireframes, tangent vectors, and bowtie vertices, and view mesh statistics.
Nrmls		Recomputes the normals and opens tools to set Normals calculations by toggling options on and off and setting the Normals Topography.
Tngnts		Edit the mesh's lines and tangents.
AttrEd		Edit the mesh's different attributes, including UVs, and add new attributes as well.
GenGrps		Generates PolyGroups for your mesh.
GrpPaint		Paint PolyGroups onto a mesh using brushstrokes.
MapPnt		Paint on specific Weight Map Layers, which first need to be generated with the AttrEd tool.
MatEd		Assign multiple materials and new material elements to triangles selected via brushstrokes.

UVs

Edit the UV coordinates of a mesh, changing how textures are mapped to the surface.

To learn more, see to the UVs Category documentation.


Tool	Example	Description
AutoUV		Automatically unwrap and pack UVs for the selected mesh.
Unwrap		Recompute UVs for existing UV islands or PolyGroups, helping minimize stretched and squashed areas.
Project		Creates UVs from casting a predefined shape or point onto your mesh.
SeamEd		Interactively separate edges in the Viewport to create seams.
XFormUV		Interactively scale, rotate, and translate UV islands in the Viewport.
Layout		Transform, stack, or repack existing UVs.
UV Editor		Launch a dedicated Editor for creating and editing UVs.

Volumes

Convert between Volume, mesh, Binary Space Partitioning (BSP), and Simple Collision representations. You can also inspect the collision and physics properties of the selected mesh.


Tool	Example	Description
Vol2Msh		Define and convert a Volume Actor to a Static or Dynamic Mesh Actor.
Msh2Vol		Defines the conversion of a mesh to a new Volume.
BSPConv		Convert Binary Space Partitioning geometry to a mesh.
PInspct		Inspect physics geometry for the selected mesh.
Msh2Coll		Convert the selected mesh(es) to Simple Collision Geometry for the last selected mesh.
Coll2Msh		Converts Simple Collision Geometry to a new mesh Actor.

MeshOps

Optimize a mesh's geometry.

When using the following tools it is helpful to change the View Mode and enable Mesh Edges under Show > Advance.


Tool	Example	Description
Simplify		Attempts to reduce the triangle density of the selected mesh.
Remesh		Retriangulate and increase triangle density on the selected mesh.
Weld		Automatically combines disconnected edges of the selected mesh within a given tolerance.
Jacket		Removes hidden triangles from the selected meshes.
Union		Combines multiple meshes into one, resolving self intersections.
Project		Map or Re-mesh one mesh onto the targeted mesh (the second selected mesh).

Baking

Generate textures and vertex color data for meshes.

For proper baking, the source mesh(es) and target mesh need to be overlapping.


Tool	Example	Description
BakeTX		Bake the source mesh's details to a target mesh as textures.
BakeAll		Bake textures for a single mesh from multiple source meshes.
BakeVtx		Bake a source mesh's details to a target mesh as vertex colors.
BakeRC		Bakes textures for a target mesh from multiple source meshes via a virtual photo or render capture.

LODs

Edit and manage the levels of detail (LODs) for a mesh.


Tool	Example	Description
LODMgr		Opens the LOD Manager to define and create LODs for the selected Static Mesh Asset.
AutoLOD		Opens a toolset to generate and define Static Mesh LOD Assets.
ISMEd		Edit instances in Instance Static Mesh Components.