Geometry

The Geometry rollout lets you to define the rules used by RailClone to assemble the different types of Segments along the path.

Copy From / Copy To

Copies the style between two RailClone objects, including all Construction Rules and Segments parameters.

Offset Y

Applies the specified offset perpendicularly to the path's direction (that is considered as the X axis in the RailClone object).

Offset Z

Displaces the geometry the specified distance in the Z axis.

Mirror

Creates a copy of the geometry at the opposite side of the path. Use it in combination with the "Offset Y" parameter.

Flip A/B

Lets you to flip the RailClone's geometry. A is the original object, and B is the copy created with the Mirror feature.

Flatten Stepped

Enable this option to automatically flatten the path in the positions where RailClone uses segments in Stepped mode. This feature is used to fix alignment issues that may appear with railings and sloped paths.

Construction Rules

RailClone uses a group of rules that define how to build the object. You can define what segment to use for each part of the spline, these include: default, start/end, corners, evenly spaced and more.

Default

If there are no other applicable rules, RailClone uses the default segment specified here. There are two operation modes: Tile and Scale.

Tile

The segment is replicated along the path. RailClone applies the deformation parameters defined in the Segment rollout, as slicing the segment automatically to fit the path's length or applying the padding distances.

Scale

In this mode, the segment is scaled along its X axis, to fit the geometry between the initial and final positions on the path. Note: this mode is not compatible with Bevels.

It's possible to use an empty default segment, by selecting "none" in the combo box. You can use this, for instance, to place objects evenly spaced along a spline (see "Evenly" section below), without any other segments between them.

Start

Lets you to specify what segments to use on the start of the path. These include two pieces: "Segment", which is positioned on the first vertex of the spline and "Joint Out", placed right after it.

End

Works like the "Start" rule, but applied to the last vertex of the spline.

Corner

This construction rule is applied on spline's vertices of Corner or Bezier Corner type. Until three segments can be specified: "Segment" (for the corner's position), "Joint In" (before corner) and "Joint Out" (after corner).

This rule is not applicable on the first and last vertex of the spline, regardless of its type. Start/End rules have precedence over this.

Bevel

Creates beveled edges in the corners, slicing the geometry of the Default segment. If Bevel is disabled, RailClone bends the geometry of the Default segment along the corner.

There are four Bevel modes available, which define the displacement of the segments before and after a bevel's edge.

• Reset: Each segment is placed at its default position (defined by the Alignment and Padding values), without applying any displacement.
• Extend: Extends the geometry of the segments along the bevel, giving an appearance of continuity.
• Symmetric: Creates symmetrical geometries at both sides of the bevel's edge.

Offset

Applies a global displacement to all segments. The value is defined as a percentage of the segment's size (from 0% to 100%).

Notes:

• The Bevel feature works better on straight lines and wide corner angles. If you get a distorted geometry using it on narrow angles or curved paths, disable it or use a Corner segment instead.
• In closed splines, it's not possible to adjust the segment displacement in the last corner, because it depends on the path's length.
• Bevel is not compatible with the default segment in Scale mode.

Align to Path

Enable this option to create smooth transitions of the corner segment along the path's trajectory. When off, RailClone aligns the corner with the last segment of the spline.

Fillet

Adjusts the path to create a rounded corner. The numeric parameter defines the radius of the fillet arc in the current 3ds Max units.

Evenly

This construction rule lets you to add segments evenly spaced along the path. You can define a central segment, besides "Joint In" and "Joint Out" pieces, which are assembled before and right after the main segment respectively.

Distance

Defines the distance between the evenly segments, specified in 3ds Max units.

Adjust to End

This value specifies the minimum length (as a percentage of the distance parameter), at which a new evenly segment can be added.

For instance: using a value of 40% and Distance = 2m, RailClone adds new segments only if the length from the last evenly segment to the end is greater than 0.8m.

Justify

Places the segments justified on the path.

Sync Offset

When an Offset Y displacement is used, by default RaiClone computes the positions of the evenly segments on the offset path, using the Distance parameter. This may be a problem in mirrored objects over curved paths, because the segments are not aligned at both sides. With "Sync Offset" enabled, the plugin uses the base path (without Offset Y applied) to place the evenly segments, and then translates the positions over the offset path, solving this issue.