Seeding is the process of adding groups to a triangulation model i.e. Road, Shoulder, Grass etc. This process allows for the creation of rendered images and videos once the triangulation has been associated with the relevant style and feature set.
Display both the COMPOSITE MODEL and the COMPOSITE TRIANGULATION (How to Create a Composite Triangulation Model) as this will let you determine to determine the locations for the different groups.
Load the Automatic Seeding tool Analysis>Triangle menu>Automatic Seeding. Select your COMPOSITE TRIANGULATION as the Triangulation Model and your COMPOSITE MODEL as the Model Name.
When you hit Next a Warning will show to assign the default style set, Select OK.
This will apply a default group to the triangulation.
The Define Triangulation Groups dialog box will appear, this is the tools that assigns the groups to the different Areas of the trinagautlion model. The seeding functions of the tool are detailed below.
Eyedropper Tool
This tool changes the current group code to that of a triangle you select.
At any time when using a different tool, you can press the CTRL key and select a triangle to change the current group code.
Feature Select
This tool assigns all triangles between the feature types which lie either side of the triangle you select to the current group code. It is particularly useful for seeding parallel features such as carriageway edges and shoulders. Note that all triangles lying between strings of the same feature type are seeded, no matter where they are in the model.
It is recommended that you use this tool first and then make any corrections using the other tools.
If you have assigned triangles using any of the other methods, they are not overwritten using Feature Select.Use Highlight to highlight the triangles before they are seeded.
Crossing Select
This tool draws a line across several triangles and assigns all triangles that the line crosses to the current group code.
Paint
This tool assigns individual triangles you click to the current group code. You can also drag the cursor to select multiple triangles.
Fill
This tool assigns triangles to the current group code using traditional seeding. It is less selective than the other tools, but is useful for seeding large areas at a time which you can then tidy up using the other tools. If the triangles have already been assigned, only triangles with the same group code as the triangle you select are seeded, so the tool is also useful for changing the group code of adjacent triangles.
Fill to String
This tool also assigns triangles to the current group code using traditional seeding, but stops at a string link. It is particularly useful for seeding closed shapes such as buildings.
Use the slider underneath the palette to adjust the size of the link tolerance; a low value means that the seed can easily escape into the surrounding area whereas a high value means that the seed is easily blocked.
Undo and Redo
Use these tools at any time to undo and redo the seeding. There is no limit to the number of undos you can perform and you can undo assignments made in a previous session. You can also use CTRL Z (Undo) and CTRL Y (Redo)
The main seeding groups are
Change the feature and style set of the COMPOSITE TRIANGULATION model to MFW Grouped Triangles with materials. This associates materials with the various seeding groups assigned to the triangulation.
To display a basic render of the seeded triangulation select a new view from the View Toggles (View 2) and use the Rotate View button to give a 3D view of the triangulation model.From the view display dropdown select Smooth with Shadows.
MX TechNotes And FAQs
How to Create a Composite Triangulation Model
How to Create a Fly Through