Design | GRAPHISOFT New Zealand - BIM Solutions

Introduction to the MORPH Tool
ArchiCAD 16 introduces a new tool called the "MORPH" tool to provide greater design freedom.

Components of a MORPH Element
MORPH elements are composed of one or more of the following sub-elements in any desired combination: Nodes, Edges and Faces.

Creating a Polygon MORPH Element
The first geometry method available for the MORPH tool is the polygonal method. Using this method you can create a polygon-shaped series of MORPH edges.

Creating a 3D Polygon MORPH Element
A polygon-shaped MORPH does not have to be constrained to a single plane. Any node of the MORPH polygon can be located anywhere in space for the generation of a true space polygon.

Creating a Rectangle, Arc or Circle Shaped MORPH Element
Four different geometry methods are available for the creation of planar MORPH shapes: 'Rectangular' or 'Rotated Rectangular', which create straight planar edges, 'Centerpoint and Radius' and 'Circumference' create curved planar edges.

Creating a 3D Box Shaped MORPH Element
The Box method creates a solid box. The first two clicks create an orthogonal rectangle in the Editing Plane, while the third click defines the height of the box.

Creating a Revolved MORPH Shape
The last geometry method of the MORPH Tool is the Revolved method. This is a three- step process. First we need to draw the profile polygon in the Editing Plane.

Selecting Sub-elements of a MORPH
Any MORPH element consists of sub-elements and any of these sub-elements can be selected for manipulation.

Selecting Multiple Sub-elements of a MORPH
It is possible to select multiple sub-elements of a MORPH element for manipulation.

Deleting Sub-elements of a MORPH
Any selected sub-element of a MORPH element can be deleted at any time, thus removing it from the MORPH element's geometry.

Working with Edges and Faces of a MORPH
It is possible to add any geometry to an existing MORPH element, including edges, faces and solid bodies.

Setting a Base Height for a MORPH
As for all 3D construction element types, it is possible to specify an elevation value to MORPH s. This is called the Base Height value.

Floor Plan Representation of MORPHs
The floor plan representation of MORPH s is a true 3D vertical projection of the MORPH elements just like in the case of Complex Roofs and Shells.

Setting Materials for MORPHs
The material selection button in the MORPH Settings Dialog specifies the base material for the MORPH element. By default all faces of the MORPH will be displayed in 3D using this material.

Setting Edge Generation Method of MORPHs
The edges of MORPH elements can have one of three possible statuses, which define their visibility and role in the generation of MORPH faces.

Modifying Texture Mapping of MORPH Faces
The default texture mapping for MORPH elements is the box method. With this method textures are projected onto every face of the MORPH element either horizontally or vertically, even onto slanted faces.

Modifying the Texture Origin and Direction of a MORPH Face
The texture origin and direction of any face of a MORPH element can be selected, and modified, redefined or reset.

Moving a Node of a MORPH body
Any node of a MORPH can be freely moved to any spatial position with the help of the Editing Plane or by finding nodes, edges or surface points on other elements.

Filleting and Chamfering MORPH Corners
Any corner of a MORPH element can be filleted or chamfered. It works similarly to the way it works on polygonal elements and the options are also similar.

Inserting New Nodes Into a MORPH Edge
A new node can be inserted into any edge of a MORPH at any position in space.

Curving a MORPH Edge
Any edge of a MORPH element can be curved. After the edges are curved, the geometry of the MORPH body will regenerate accordingly.

Filleting and Chamfering MORPH Edges
Any edge of a MORPH element can be filleted or chamfered individually or together with other edges of the MORPH.

Offsetting MORPH Edges
Any edge of a MORPH element may be offset. It works similarly to the way polygon edges are offset in 2D.

Pushing and Pulling a MORPH Face
One of the commands that can be performed on MORPH elements specifically is the Push/Pull command.

Customizing MORPH Edge Settings
The edge type of MORPH element edges can be customized. The three possible edge choices are: Hard, Hidden and Soft.

Customizing MORPH Face Settings
Material and texture settings of MORPH faces can be customized on an individual basis.

3D-dragging Sub-elements of a MORPH 
It is possible to drag sub-elements of a MORPH element. This command works on edges and faces as there is a separate Move Node command on the Pet Palette for relocating nodes.

Free Rotating Sub-elements of a MORPH
Besides free rotating elements, it is also possible to free rotate sub-elements of a MORPH element. This command works on edges and faces.

Mirroring Sub-elements of a MORPH
It is possible to mirror MORPH elements in 3D and it works the same way as with other element types and as before. Additionally, it is possible to mirror sub-elements of a MORPH element.

Multiplying Sub-elements of a MORPH
It is possible to multiply MORPH elements in 3D and it works in the same way as with other element types earlier. Additionally, it is also possible to multiply sub-elements of a MORPH element.

Box Stretching a MORPH: Introduction
A new Pet Palette command available only for MORPH elements is the Box Stretch command.

Box Stretching a MORPH by a Corner
When a Stretch Box is displayed, stretching works slightly differently depending on whether you click a corner, an edge or a face to start the stretch operation.

Box Stretching a MORPH by an Edge
After the Box Stretch command is activated and the Stretch Box is displayed, click any edge of the Box to start stretching. In such cases the Box will stretch from its edge opposite to the clicked edge.

Box Stretching a MORPH by a Face
After the Box Stretch command is activated and the Stretch Box is displayed, click any face of the Stretch Box to start stretching. In such cases the Box will stretch from its face opposite to the clicked face and stretching can occur in only 1 main direction.

Box Stretching Sub-elements of a MORPH
MORPH elements can be stretched in all three main directions. Additionally, it is also possible to Box Stretch sub-elements of MORPH elements.

Box Stretching Multiple MORPH Elements or MORPH Sub-elements
It is possible to select more than one MORPH element and issue a Box Stretch command on them from the Pet Palette.

Box Stretching a MORPH: Editing Planes
When Box Stretching MORPH elements, all input methods normally available in 3D element creation can be used for the definition of the stretch input.

Box Stretching a MORPH: Input
Input during Box Stretching a MORPH element, just as in other situations, is defined by the cursor's position on the Editing Plane unless the cursor senses the corner, edge or surface point of another element, in which case that point will be taken as input.

Box Stretching a MORPH: Stretch Box Orientation
The Stretch Box is by default a vertical standing box, but it can have any orientation in space since its orientation is linked to the orientation of the Editing Plane.

Splitting a MORPH
The functionality of the Split command has been enhanced in ArchiCAD 16. When the Split command is activated in 3D, a red colored 3D Splitting Plane feedback is displayed after specifying the first point of the Splitting Plane.

Creating a MORPH From Targets of Solid Element Operations
ArchiCAD 16 includes two new buttons in the Solid Element Operations Palette that are related to MORPH.

Merging Targets of Solid Element Operations into a MORPH
ArchiCAD 16 includes two new buttons in the Solid Element Operations Palette that are related to MORPH.

Exploding Elements to MORPHs
Any 3D element can be selected and converted into MORPHs. Although the command can be used on simple elements like slabs, columns and so on, it is most useful when complex geometries need to be converted into MORPHs.

Creating a MORPH from Selected Elements
It is possible to create a MORPH element out of other construction elements. This would usually be done when you want to create a custom geometry that is not possible with the given element type.

Creating a MORPH Using the Magic Wand
The Magic Wand feature can be used for the creation of MORPH elements. This can be used on the floor plan, section or elevation viewpoints.

Uniting Element Geometries Into a MORPH
Two or more existing construction elements can be united in a Solid Element Operation to create a new MORPH element. The selected elements can be of any element type: they can be MORPHs as well as other elements.

Subtracting Element Geometries from a MORPH
The geometry of elements can be subtracted from a specified MORPH element to create a Solid Element type operation on the MORPH element.

Intersecting Element Geometries to a MORPH
The geometries of two or more elements can be intersected to create a new MORPH element. A new MORPH element will be generated from the intersection of the bodies of the selected elements.

Checking the Solidity of a MORPH
Any MORPH element can be either solid, when it is a solid body, or hollow, when it is made up of only surfaces.

Bulging a MORPH Face 
With the Bulge command of the MORPH Pet Palette you can grow a bulge or a hump onto any face of a MORPH element.