Railing

Railing

Create panel -(Geometry) - AEC Extended-Railing button
Create menu- AEC Objects -Railing

Components of the railing object include rails, posts, and fencing. Fencing includes either pickets (balusters) or solid-filled material, such as glass or wood strip.

Railings used to create fences in a field.

You can create a railing object either by specifying the orientation and height of the railing, or by picking a spline path and applying the railing to that path. When 3ds Max applies railing to a spline path, the latter is called a rail path. Later, if you edit the rail path, the railing object automatically updates to follow the changes you made. You can use three-dimensional splines as rail paths.
When you create the lower rails, posts, and fencing components of a railing, you use the Spacing tool to specify the spacing of those components. 3ds Max names the Spacing tool dialog for each railing component: Lower Rail Spacing, Post Spacing, or Picket Spacing.

TipUse Railing to create complete railings for stairs. See Stairs for more information.

Railings and Materials

By default, 3ds Max assigns five different material IDs to railings. The aectemplates.mat material library includes Rail-Template, a multi/sub-object material designed to be used with railings. Each component of the railing/material is listed below along with its corresponding Material ID.

Procedures

The following procedures describe how to create railings combining each of the components: upper rail, lower rails, posts, picket fencing, and solid filled fencing.
You can create a railing object in any viewport, but for best results, use a Perspective, Camera, or Top viewport.

To create a railing:

1. Click and drag the railing to the desired length.
2. Release the mouse button, and then move the mouse vertically to set the height. Click to finish. By default, 3ds Max creates the top rail along with two posts, a lower rail at half the railing height, and two evenly spaced pickets.
   
3. If you need to, change any of the parameters to adjust the segments, length, profile, depth, width, and height of the rail.

To adjust lower rails:

1. To modify the lower rail, or add more, choose an option from the Lower Rail(s) group Profile list.
2. Specify the depth and width for the lower rails and then click Lower Rail(s) (Spacing).
3. Specify the number of lower rails you want using the Count option. Click Close to apply your changes. For more information on spacing options in this dialog, see Spacing Tool.

To create posts:

1. If you want to modify the posts, or add more, choose an option from the Profile list under the Posts rollout.
2. Specify the depth and width of the posts and how much they should extend above the top rail. Then click Posts rollout (Spacing).
3. Specify the number of posts you want using the Count option. Click Close to apply your changes. For more information on spacing options in this dialog, see Spacing Tool.

To create picket fencing:

1. Choose Fencing rollout Type list Pickets. The Solid Fill options will be unavailable.
2. Choose an option from the Profile list, specify the depth and width of the pickets, and then click Picket rollout (Spacing).
3. Specify the number of pickets you want using the Count option. Click Close to apply your changes. For more information on spacing options in this dialog, Spacing Tool.

To create solid-fill fencing:

1. Choose Fencing rollout Type list Solid Fill. (The options under Picket are unavailable).
2. Under Solid Fill, adjust the options for Thickness and offsets.

To create railings along a spline path:

Before you can create railings along a spline path, you need to create a spline, or use an existing spline from your scene.

1. Click Create panel (Geometry) AEC Extended Railing.
2. Click Pick Railing Path, then select a spline in your scene. Since the number of segments is 1 by default, the upper rail extends for one segment between the start and end of the spline.
   
3. Change the amount of segments using the Modify panel Segment setting. The higher the segment value, the more closely the railing approximates the spline shape.
   
4. If you want the railing to contain corners where the spline does, turn on Respect Corners.
5. Complete the remainder of the railing options as described in the preceding procedures. Thereafter, the spline is associated with the railing; any changes you make to the spline shape are reflected in the railing.

Interface

Name and Color rollout

This rollout lets you set the selected railing's name and color. For detailed information, see Object Name and Wireframe Color.

Railing rollout

Pick Railing Path

Click this, and then click a spline in the viewport to use as the railing path. 3ds Max uses the spline as the path along which to apply the railing object.
If you edit the spline you’ve used as a railing path, the railing adjusts to the changes you make. 3ds Max doesn’t immediately recognize 2D Shapes from a linked AutoCAD drawing. To recognize Shapes from a linked AutoCAD drawing, edit the Shape with Edit Spline in the Modify panel.

TipWhen you create a railing using a closed spline for the rail path, open the Post Spacing dialog, turn off Start Offset and End Offset, and lock End Offset. This will ensure that 3ds Max properly creates the railing with any fill, pickets, and posts you specify.

NoteRailing objects that use Pick Path do not stay on the path when substituted using the Substitute modifier. Substituted externally referenced railings do not undo when railings are associated with a path.

Segments

Sets the number of segments of the railing object. Available only when you’re using a railing path.
For a close approximation to a railing path, increase the number of segments. Be aware that a high number of segments increases file size and slows down the rendering speed. You might use fewer segments when the spline path has a low curvature (or none) and fewer segments provide an adequate approximation.

Respect Corners

Puts corners in the railing to match the corners of the railing path.

Length

Sets the length of the Railing object. When you drag the mouse, the length displays in the edit box.