Tessellate Tool

description "Breaks" (tessellates) selected polygons into triangles.
creator: Shead Data Processing
version: 1.00
interface:

tessellate_ui1.gif (3781 bytes)

OK: Creates the new polygons and closes the tool.

Cancel: Closes the tool without creating any polygons.

restrictions: None.
use:

Select the polygons you wish to convert to triangles:

tessellate_sample1.gif (10823 bytes)

Open the Tessellate tool by double-clicking "Tessellate" in the Toolbox.

As soon as Tessellate opens, you’ll see new, triangular polygons created for any currently selected polygons:

tessellate_sample2.gif (4756 bytes)

Note how Tessellate correctly handles non-simple, non-concave polygons, including polygons with "holes" such as the letter "D". You’ll use Tessellate frequently to convert polygons such as letters of the alphabet into simple, concave polygons that OpenGL can render.

Note also that Tessellate does not destroy the original polygons, and that the triangles that are created share the same points as the original polygons. Thus, any alterations you make to the original polygons will be made to the new triangles, unless you UnWeld them.

tips:

Since the Tessellate tool does not give you any control over how it breaks polygons into triangles, there may be circumstance where you might need to perform the operation manually, using the Bridge tool

 

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