[3Ds Max] Applying smoothing Groups after Unwrapping

[e-freak]

I modelled a fairly basic door, you can see here:

after I had the result I wanted I went for UV-Mapping the door and textured it. Now I forgot to apply smoothing groups to the model and it looks kinda idiotic to have hard edges all over the places. Now I wanted to go to the editable poly modifier again (leave the Unwrap UVW modifier) and it gives me an error message I'm about to lose everything I did with the modifier. Well I can see the problem with modifying the model after unwrap but I just wanna apply some smoothing groups and not alter the shape at all. But no chance as soon as I apply a smoothing group it loses all uv-coordinates and I don't wanna reunwrap the model (esp since I may run into the problem again with more complex models )

can anyone help - how to apply smoothing groups without losing the already created uv-map?

[arhurt]

You have to collapse the modifier, don`t be afraid.

Right click the model with the UVW modfier, select "Convert to Poly" and collapse it. Then you can reshape/reapply smoothing groups and add and remove polys without hesitation.

After that, if you need to tweak the UVW mapping, just add the filter once again and you are done.

Edit: Also, that looks TF2-ish to me. Like an airplane door? Must see!

[Minos]

Or you can just add an "edit poly" modifier on top of your stack if you don't really feel like collapsing your mesh.

[e-freak]

Edit: Also, that looks TF2-ish to me. Like an airplane door? Must see!

soon... soon

thanks for the help both of you

worked out perfect