Hidden geometry

MartinPh · 7 Feb 2010, 14:22

Here's a little wish I've had as long as I've been using SU: separate options for hiding geometry and for hiding softened edges. I've never understood why there's only one hiding option for both together, they are very different things. If I'm working in a model with lots of curved surfaces, I often need to hide a number of groups and components, while at the same time I want to see the softened edges. But if 'Show hidden geometry' is on, my hidden groups are shown as well. So my only option until now is to put them on another layer, and I hate working with layers in SU - the whole concept is alien to the software and very unintuitive, and usually (with me at least) causes no end of confusion... So please give me a 'Show softened edges' button.

xrok1 · 7 Feb 2010, 18:31

this might be a nice feature for thomthom's selection toys plug. how about thom?

thomthom · 7 Feb 2010, 18:40

No. This is not something you can control via the ruby API. You can't force some hidden object to show when hidden geometry is off.

It's more a workflow issue.
I use layers all the time. The only time that gets confusing is if a model breaks the golden rule of having all edges and faces in layer0 and only change the layer for groups/components.
Don't quite see what's so unintuitive about it. Seem to me like any other layer system...

xrok1 · 7 Feb 2010, 18:44

i can't understand why they would even allow geom (edges/faces)to be broken up to seperate layers; seems more like a bug?? can you see any use for this?

thomthom · 7 Feb 2010, 18:54

Why would that be any different than being able to hide edges/faces separately? Same thing.

xrok1 · 7 Feb 2010, 19:34

because the layer thing can happen inadvertently (has happened to me) causing a lot of confusion and frustration. its like the strange behavior of hiding something while editing (can't remember exact steps) and then it doesn't show up when show hidden is activated??? makes no sense.

thomthom · 7 Feb 2010, 19:43

Yes - if all geometry isn't strictly on layer0 then confusion and unexpected result quickly appear. A quick way to check is to turn on Color By Layer.

xrok1 · 7 Feb 2010, 19:48

thanks for the tip, i went through the outliner to find mine when it happened to me. would color by layer work if the geometry is hidden and lost?

katzmatt · 24 Jun 2013, 02:19

i know this is a really old thread but the solution is to simply go under "window" > soften edges and slide the slider to 0, then all lines reappear