Dragging points on a subdivided model

Dragging point around can be an effective tool to refine your model. However, drag does not work well on Catmull-Clark subdivided models (there you need to select the points on the control hull in stead of the points displaced by subdivision). Switch to standard subdivision for dragging (you can switch back later)

Mirroring

When you build half the object and want to mirror it, you need to be sure that the open half of the object is exactly on the right axis, usually the X axis (the axis used for symmetry operations). Here's how you can make sure all your points are neatly on that axis:

• Select points that need to be on the X axis (x=0)
  • Un-Subdivide your geometry to see where the points really are (Tab)
• Hit i to open up the info window
• At the bottom, set position for X to zero (0)
• Mirror using Multiply → Duplicate → mirorX

Once you have mirrored your object, turn on Symmetry (Bottom of the screen, next to the Point / Edge / Polygon selection) before moving points. Shortcut Shift+Y

Adding points

You can simply subdivide polygons, but the downside is that all adjacent polys that had four edges, now are five edged polys. Polygons with five or more sides (therefore also five or more points) cannot be subdivided unless you are using Catmull-Clarke subdivision mode.

You can use the knife tool. But once you have mirrored your object you want to create extra geometry identical on both sides to make sure symmetry is conserved so you can keep using the afore mentioned Symmetry modeling mode. Here is a way to add detail that is controlled and easy to handle:

• Select edges you want to subdivide. When in Symmetry mode, edges on the other side of the object should automatically be selected as well.
• Multiply → Subdivide → Divide
• The program automatically switches to Point selection mode with the newly created points selected
• Also select the one more point on each of the polygons where the line that is to be created line now ends
  Any adjacent polygons that now have five points will be split into a quad and a triangle.
• Connect the points with Construct → Combine → Connect

Triangulating your object

You can convert all the polygons in your object to triangles, which are easier to manage and more predictable in rendering (even more so in animation)

• Un-Subdivide your geometry (Tab)
• Multiply → Duplicate → Triple