1.) SUBD reflect doesn’t work on rotated / angled parts without changing cplane.
2.) It’s very difficult trying to work on a symmetrical part who’s position you need to adjust because you lose symmetry when the object rotates away from reflect plane.
In this example I need to edit the part with symmetry in the following way, however there’s no way to define a reflection plane like this (unless I’m missing something?).
And it would be useful to select a plane object as the reflection plane and allow it to maintain REFLECT if you rotate both objects (SUBD + reflect plane).
Changing cplanes is powerful. Get used to it.
Good practices: remember the cplane as _NamedCplane.
Reflect - Plane
yes i agree that the dialog for setting the reflection-plane is very / to limited. It should be the same as for mirror.
..and both should consistently use a Planes name:
either Top,Front,Right or XY, XZ, YZ.
(see this topic)
i think this is the aspect that really would profit from some improved “how to set reflect-plane” options.
_MPlane
(just to note:) Mobile Plane, _MPlane allows a Cplane to be attached and interactively follow a Object
it will not help in your case -
, as _MPlane and _reflect can 't be combined. And _MPlane can also not be stored as _namedCPlane.
Reflect - Plane follows
i see the following behaviour here (Mac, Version 8 (8.27.26019.16022, 2026-01-19))
Assigning _reflect with “Y” option, reflection plane is fixed/static.
Assigning _reflect with a custom _cplane and 2 points, the plane follows if i move / rotate the object.
and… this is also described in the help:
The reflection plane set by XAxis or YAxis options does not move with the object.
The reflection plane set by picking two points moves with the object.
Even using Cplane it’s kinda confusing / limited as the reflect options only allow X or Y. So in this example if I use AutoCplane my intuition is to draw one of the first two planes, but only the 3rd (orthogonal) plane works.
If those two points were expanded to 3 so you could define an angled plane it would probably achieve the goal. Either this or linking symmetry to a mobile plane or a plane object.
Side note: At least with Rhino you can always create a solution & this is what I ended up doing. Using GH isn’t actually that bad. Would still be nice to have expanded Reflect options.
@Tom_P 's answers are exactly on point here. Especially the distinction between the XAxis and YAxis options that create fixed planes, and the 2-point plane selection that creates a plane that follows the object.
I’m tracking the “angled” plane and other Reflect plane features in our bug tracking system:
RH-65521 SubD Symmetry: Make reflection plane editable after Reflect RH-92178 Reflect SubD: Plane selection is too limited
=> especially - make plane selection / plane related command ) mirror, cplane, IP, remapCplane) consistent regarding the plane-getting / handling.
thanks
maybe already outlining / commenting / connecting / referencing the relationship to other commands that handle “plane-Getting” is a first step.
i would love to see some kind of polishing, baking consistency (getting rid of Inconsistency), not breaking users expectations - would be a nice topic for V10. - looks like it is to late for V9…
so there is even a much bigger project: (the content is not fully qualified …)
the big picture - no place for new functions - only clean up / fine tuining discipline ;-(
V10 – gold needs love and to be polished
├─ Bugs / core
│ ├─ intersections
│ └─ filletEdge
│ └─ ...
│
├─ Inconsistencies (Get)
│ ├─ Plane Selection
│ │ ├─ _reflect (<------ your job @pierrec)
│ │ ├─ _cplane
│ │ ├─ _mirror
│ │ ├─ _ip
│ │ └─ remapCPlane
│ │
│ ├─ Edge Loops
│ │ ├─ bridge vs. blendSurface
│ │ └─ …
│ │
│ └─ Sub-selection
│ ├─ SubD vs. Mesh vs. NURBS
│ └─ Copy and layers
│
└─ Inconsistencies (Panels / Command Structure)
├─ Changing layers while a panel is active
├─ Command options that should remain accessible
│ until the command is finished
└─ …
