Point surfaces are NURBS surfaces whose points are constrained to lie on the curve.
Because an initial NURBS surface is meant to be edited, the surface creation parameters do not appear in the Modify command panel. In this respect, NURBS surface objects are different from other 3DS MAX objects. The Modify command panel provides other ways to change the values you set in the Create panel.
The creation parameters are the same for both Point Surfaces and CV Surfaces.
Length: The length of the surface, in current 3DS MAX units.
Width: The width of the surface, in current 3DS MAX units.
In the Modify command panel, the Length and Width spinners are no longer available. You can change the length or width of the surface by scaling the surface at the Surface sub-object level. Moving point sub-objects also alters the length and width of the surface.
Length Points: The number of points along the length of the surface. In other words, the initial number of point columns in the surface. Can range from 2 to 50. Default = 4.
Width Points: The number of points along the width of the surface. In other words, the initial number of point rows in the surface. Can range from 2 to 50. Default = 4.
In the Modify command panel, the point Length and Width spinners are no longer available. You can change the number of rows and columns by deleting existing rows and columns, or by adding new rows and columns using the Refine controls at the Point sub-object level.
Generate Mapping Coordinates: Generates mapping coordinates so you can apply mapped materials to the surface.
The Generate Mapping Coordinates control is present in the Modify command panel. It is at the Surface sub-object level.
When you modify a point surface, a rollout lets you change its surface approximation settings.
The Keyboard Entry rollout lets you create a point surface by typing. Use the TAB key to move between the controls in this rollout. To press the Create button, use ENTER while the button is active.
X, Y, and Z: Enter the coordinates of the center of the surface.
Length and Width: Enter the dimensions of the surface, in current 3DS MAX units.
Length Points: Enter the number of points along the length of the surface (this is the initial number of point columns).
Width Points: Enter the number of points along the width of the surface (this is the initial number of point rows).
Create: Creates the surface object.