--- title: "Object Properties" url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/OSOLIDIFYGENERATOR-ID_OBJECTPROPERTIES.html" section_path: "Create Menu > Generators > Thicken > Object Properties" element_id: "OSOLIDIFYGENERATOR" group_id: "ID_OBJECTPROPERTIES" description: "Use this setting to define the distance between the start and end caps surfaces. Be careful with values that are too high, as more complex objects quickly …" --- ## Object Properties ### Mode Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_MODE` These two modes are available: - **Basic**: This mode can be used for simple objects and is very fast. For more complex objects, the results are often insufficient. Then switch to: - **Advanced**: A different algorithm is used here, which produces more accurate results at the expense of computing time. It has some additional settings. ### Thickness Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_THICKNESS` · Range: [0..+∞m] Use this setting to define the distance between the start and end caps surfaces. Be careful with values that are too high, as more complex objects quickly reach their limits due to overlaps. ### Clamp Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_THICKNESSCLAMP` · Range: [100..+∞%] This setting is only available in **Advanced** *mode*. Occasionally, long "spines" can be created to achieve the required **Thickness**. These can be counteracted by reducing this setting. Another application is the regulation of the overall wall thickness on geometry with very sharp angles: ![Image: 2023-2_solidify_05.png](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/2023-2_solidify_05.png)\ Left small, right large value for Thickness Limit. ### Position Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_POSITION` · Range: [-100..100%] Here you can define the directions in which start and end caps surfaces should move depending on the **Thickness** setting At *-100%* the duplicated surface will be shifted inwards against the normal, at *+100%* outwards, at *0%* both surfaces will shift equally in opposite directions. Intermediate values work accordingly. ![Image: 2024-2_Nodes_Thicken_02.png](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/2024-2_Nodes_Thicken_02.png)\ Here, an angled plane is provided with a wall thickness. The outer edges of this plane can be seen as a colored selection and illustrate the position of the initial geometry within the thickened geometry when different position values are used (in this example -100%, 0% and 100%). ### Subdivision Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_BOUNDARYSUBDIVISION` · Range: [0..2147483647] If you want to evenly subdivide the polygon strip created at the edges between the start and end deck surfaces into additional strips, the number of subdivisions can be defined here. ### Shell Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_CREATEBOUNDARY` ### Start Cap Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_CREATEINSIDE` ### End Cap Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_CREATEOUTSIDE` ![Image: 2023-2_solidify_02_.png](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/2023-2_solidify_02_.png) With these three options you define which surfaces should be created. According to the preset, all of them are visible at first. ### Thickness Map Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_VERTEXMAP` A Vertex map can be placed here, with which you can individually control the **Thickness** at the point level. Drag a Vertex map tag into this field to place its name here; alternatively, enter the tag name manually. The maximum (100%) is set by the **Thickness** parameter. ### Polygon Selection Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_SELECTION` As an alternative to the Vertex map just mentioned, you can also work with Polygon Selection tags. Drag a Polygon Selection tag into this field to place its name here; alternatively, enter the tag name manually. Selections can have only 2 states: on or off, i.e., selected polygons are provided with the wall thickness specified at **Thickness**, all other polygons remain as they are. ### Selection Handling Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_SELECTIONHANDLING` Suppose you restrict a material to just this selection via a Polygon Selection tag. The Thicken object will create duplicated, offset polygons. How should the material be projected? Also onto the "polygon twins"? That's what these options are for: - **Copy**: The selection is copied to the twin polygons. If the selection contains border polygons, the generated border will be integrated into the selection. - **Keep on source**: The selection remains exclusively on the original polygons. - **Move to Cap**: The selection is transferred to the twin polygons and removed from the original surface. ### Map Handling Parameter ID: `SOLIFIFYGENERATOR_MAPHANDLING` This setting defines how the maps will be handled (e.g., vertex or color maps). How should the point values be transferred to the "twins" of the new surface? - **Copy**: The values are copied to the twins. - **Keep on source**: The values remain exclusively on the original points. - **Move to Cap**: The values are transferred to the twins and removed from the original points. ### Resolve Intersections Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_COMPLEX_RESOLVEINTERSECTION` ### Optimize Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_COMPLEX_WELDCOLLAPSED` These and the following settings can only be selected in the *Advanced* **mode**. For example, they provide additional methods for producing clean wall thickness geometry - especially at inner corners and bends. As the wall thickness increases, the points of internal contours converge more and more and fan out again when crossed. This undesirable behavior should be prevented by activating options, in that approaching points are positioned congruently and are even welded into one point when **Optimize** is activated. However, depending on the geometry and **Thickness**, this does not always work perfectly. ![Image: 2023-2_solidify_03.png](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/2023-2_solidify_03.png)\ Increasing **Thickness** values from left to right. The points marked on the left are increasingly converged. Disabled **Resolve Intersections**.option on the bottom right. ### Perpendicular Boundary Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_COMPLEX_FORCEPERPENDICULARBOUNDARY` ![Image: 2023-2_solidify_04_.png](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/2023-2_solidify_04_.png) When generating the wall thickness, it can happen in certain constellations (s. image) that the generated edge is twisted to ensure a continuous transition. This is rarely desired and can therefore be prevented by varying the **Perpendicular Boundary**value. This ensures that the polygons of the newly created border are always perpendicular to the two surfaces creating the thickness. ### Preserve Corners Parameter ID: `SOLIDIFYGENERATOR_COMPLEX_PRESERVECORNERS` ![Image: 2023-2_solidify_07.png](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/2023-2_solidify_07.png) With diagonal "cuts" - as shown on the left - undesirable edge effects can occur. In such cases, the variation of **Preserve Corners**helps (right). This works best if the cut is on a plane, the edge will do.