What
do you get when you take a 2D shape, make it move along
a path, and in the process create a new shape? A Loft!
These wonders are often used for creating piping and
similar objects.
 Start
by opening up a new file in 3D Studio Max and selecting
the Shapes tab on the top. Use the various shape tools
to create a curved line that will act as your path
(you may want to select Smooth for Initial Type and
Drag type under the Creation method visible on the
right side of the screen). Then, create a shape (I
made a star).
 On
the right, under the Create tab, select the Geometry
button, and choose Compound Objects. Click on your
path, then click the Loft button under the Object Type
heading.
 Press
the Get Shape button on the under the Creation Method
heading and click your shape. A stunning loft object
should appear. The picture to the left is what mine
looked like after a little rotation. That's basically
it, but there are plenty more cool things you can do
with lofts. If you wish to see some, continue.
 By
choosing the Modify tab ( )
you can warp the shape by using the options under the
Deformations heading. I applied a Scale and Twist effect
to the image at the left.
One more cool effect you can do is change the shape
of that follows the path at any point along the path.
To experiment, create a new shape (I made a circle).
Go back to the Create tab, and as in step 2, select
your path and hit the Loft button. Hit Get Shape
and select your first shape. Then, under Path Parameters,
enter 50 (this defines how far along the path the
shape changes). Hit the Get Shape button again and
select your second shape. Now, half-way through your
loft, the shape should gradually change.
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