🔹 Editable Poly – Edges Deep Dive 🔹

Now that we've covered vertices, let's move on to edges in Edit Poly mode. Understanding how to manipulate edges is critical for refining shapes and improving geometry flow.

1️⃣ Edge Selection Tools

In Edit Poly, select the Edge sub-object mode (shortcut: 2). Here are some key tools:

✅ Backface Cull

• Prevents selecting edges behind the visible surface.
• Useful when selecting only front-facing geometry.

✅ Grow & Shrink

• Grow → Expands selection outward to connected edges.
• Shrink→ Contracts the selection inward.

✅ Ring & Loop

• Ring → Selects all broadsided edges to the current selection.
• Loop→ Selects all continuously connected edges to the current selection.

2️⃣ Edge Editing Operations

🔸 Remove vs. Delete

• Remove (Backspace)→ Deletes the edge but keeps the surrounding polygons.
• Delete (Delete Key)→ Deletes the edge and removes the associated polygon, creating an open hole.

🔸 Break

• Forms a split in the geometry at the selected edge(s).
• Useful for separating geometry without removing faces.

🔸 Extrude (Edge) 

• Pulls an edge inward or outward, creating new faces.
• Use the Extrude Settings (right-click the button) for precision.

🔸 Weld & Target Weld

• Weld → Merges two close edges at their midpoint.
• Target Weld → Click one edge and snap it to another. Great for manual cleanup!

🔸 Chamfer (Edge Bevel) 

• Rounds off hard edges by adding extra geometry.
• Adjust Segments for a smoother transition.

🔸 Connect

• Adds a new edge loop between selected edges.
• Useful for adding detail without disrupting topology.

🔸 Remove Isolated Vertices

• Cleans up stray vertices left behind after edge removal.

3️⃣ Advanced Edge Operations

🔹 Slice Plane

• Creates a temporary cutting plane to slice through geometry.
• Move the yellow plane, then hit Slice to apply the cut.

🔹 Cut (Alt + C)

• Manually draw new edges across polygons.
• Can be used with snapping.
• Right-click twice to exit the tool.

🔹 Relax

• Smooths out selected edges, evening out spacing.
• Adjust Strength & Iterations for more control.

⚡ Quick Edge Modeling Tips

✅ Use Connect for clean loops.
✅ Chamfer sharp corners for smoother lighting transitions.
✅ Target Weld for precise merging.
✅ Use Cut & Slice for quick manual edits.