Easy aligning???

[Dave Buckley]

Why is the align tool in max so complicated???

 

All i want to do is snap a point on one object to a point on another object.

 

Surely it can't be that difficult.

 

The only thing i am having difficult is when the objects snap to each other there is no control over the orientation.

 

If i have two cylinders, can i select an edge in one and snap it to an edge in the other so that they fit together as though the two edges are a seam between the two.

 

bit difficult to explain but its drivin me mad

[RobNJ73]

Wouldn't using the snap tools be an easier way to do this rather than the align tool?

[Dave Buckley]

I don't know??? Would it??? I guess thats y i'm askin?? Do you just mean turning snaps on and then using the move tool???

[RobNJ73]

That's it exactly. But right-click on the snap tool and define exactly what it is you want to snap to (grid points, vertices, edges, etc... )

[SandmanNinja]

The more options you are given, the more decisions there are to be made.

 

ALIGN will take Object A and place something in a straight line or in an orderly position in relation to something else, or be placed in this way with Object B.

You can ALIGN some or almost all aspects of one object with another object. The pivot point, the center of mass, one side (min), the other side (max). And all of the above with some or all 3 axis (X,Y,Z). Sometimes you have to do a 2-step process - align it against one axis, apply it, then align it with another axis.

 

If you want a vert on Object A to occupy the same space as a vert on Object B, then Snap-To is the tool to use.

 

The Align has no "Vert" option, a sign that it's not the correct tool to use.

 

Ted Boardman has some awesome tutorials and I finally understood the Align command after watching his tutorials.

 

Sam: "Fred! Why do you always hit those screws with your hammer? Use your Screw Driver!"

Fred: "Screw Driver??"

[LukeC]

you can use the normal align tool