Defining Symmetry Zones

You can define two zones of the same subdivision surface as symmetric zones. Elements of the symmetric zones are constrained, therefore all operations performed on the mesh are automatically done on both sides of the mesh.
This is helpful when you want to symmetrize a small part of the subdivision surface.
   
Open a shape containing a subdivision surface and a plane.

  1. Click Symmetric Zone in the Operations toolbar.

  2. Select the subdivision surface.

    A Tools Palette is displayed.

  3. Select the faces to constrain and the symmetry plane.

    The symmetry plane is located at the bar center of the selected elements. No vertex is modified and the subdivision surface remains unchanged.
    The following icons are displayed in the tools palette:
    • Reset All Constraints: Resets all symmetric zone features.
    • The following commands let you constrain the symmetry zones:
       
      •   Select First Zone: Selects first zone.
      •   Select Second Zone: Selects the zone symmetric to the first zone.
      •   Select Whole Zone: Selects the set of faces to constrain
      •   Select Cutting Edges: Defines cutting edges. Selecting one edge is enough, a propagation defines through the set of faces the symmetry on the right and on the left of the edge frontier.
      The two selected zones must have the same number of faces and edges.
    • Symmetrize Whole Mesh:Performs a symmetry on the whole mesh.
       
      • Define Robot Plane: Modifies the origin and orientation of the Robot and exits the robot definition to return to the previous function.
      • Reset Robot: Resets the orientation of the Robot to the model axis.
      •  Selection: Activates the plane selection.
      • Plane Translation: Translates the plane.
      • Plane Rotation: Rotates the plane.
       
    • Symmetrize selected faces: Performs a symmetry on the selected faces. The Switch Symmetry Side Switch Symmetric Side: Lets you select the side to keep.
    • Apply Mean Symmetry: Performs a symmetry at the mean plane between the selected elements.
      Symmetrize Selected Faces and Apply Mean Symmetry are available when the selection is symmetric to the plane
    • All Elements Selection: Selects all elements.
    • Apply (Enter): Applies the command.
     

  4. To constrain the two zones: 

     
    1. Click Select First Zone and select the first zone.
      The selection is displayed in red.
    2. Click Select Second Zone and select the second zone.
      The selection is displayed in red.

  5. Use the arrow to translate the mesh.

  6. Click Symmetrize Whole Mesh .
    The whole mesh is symmetrized.

    In the tools palette, click Switch Symmetry Side to switch the side to keep.

  7. Select several elements and click Symmetrize Selected Faces .
    All the selected elements of the mesh are symmetrized.

  8. Click Apply to apply the changes.
    The Symmetric Zone.x feature is created in the Subdivision Surface.x node in the specification tree.

  9. From the Modification toolbar, select Modification .

  10. In the Tools Palette, click Translation .

  11. Select a point in the zone and translate it.
    The selected point and its symmetric element are both translated.