Understanding Object Data Flow

Master object refers to an object defined by a set of creation parameters and the original position and orientation of its pivot point. You never see the master object. What you see on the screen is always the result of at least the following data flow:

Master Object

     -> Object Transforms

          -> Object Properties

Object creation parameters in the Create panel and Track View

An example of master objects with different creation parameters.

The Object Modifiers are the next group evaluated in the data flow. Each modifier is evaluated in the order it was placed on the modifier stack. The modifications all occur in the object’s object space and the result is called the modified object.

Object modifiers in the Modify panel and Track View

The effect of modifiers on a master object.

Once the modified object has been evaluated, it is transformed within the world coordinate system. Transforms cover the position, rotation, and scale changes applied from the transform buttons on the toolbar.

The method of evaluating all modifiers first and then evaluating the combined transforms has important ramifications for the way you work with 3ds max.

Transforms are completely independent from the order of application. For example, imagine a cylinder that is 40 units high. If you scale the cylinder along its Z axis, increase its height, and then bend the cylinder 180 degrees, you get the same result as if you bent the cylinder first and then scaled it. The scale transform is always evaluated after the Bend modifier.

If you want to apply a transform that is evaluated in a specific order in the modifier stack, use the XForm modifier. See XForm Modifier.

The effect of transforms on a modified object.

Space warps are evaluated after transforms. They distort objects bound to the space warp based on the position of the object in world space. For example, a Wave space warp causes the surface of an object to undulate in the form of a wave. As the object or the space warp moves through world space, the waves move across the object’s surface.

Object properties are the last to be evaluated before the object is displayed. These are properties unique to each named object such as its name, color, and shadow-casting properties.

This is the end of the data flow and the result is the named object you see in your scene. See Properties.

Right-click an object and choose Properties to display its Object Properties dialog.

Object Properties affect the look of an object's rendered output.

Data flow diagram of a typical object