Non manifold Geometry

[GateKeeper]

Hello all,

I have a question about splitting polygons. In the Maya Fundamentals tutorials that came with the book the author mentioned avoiding non-manifold geometry. He described this as a polygon with more than four sides. (then he said five in a different tutorial.) What affects could non-manifold geometry have on a model during the different steps in finishing it? i.e. modeling, animation, coloring, rendering. I know how to avoid having this type of geometry but am not completley sure why I should be avoiding it.

:confused:

[kbrown]

Some functions won't work at all or they can produce weird results if your model has non-manifold geometry. Non-manifold can mean that one or more polygons has a different normal direction than the adjacent ones. It can also mean a polygon with less than 3 vertices or some loose vertices without any edges connected to it (and many other things). I like to think that non-manifold geometry is a synomym to illegal geometry...

[GateKeeper]

ah okay thank you for the clearup