[Plugin][$] Curviloft 2.0a - 31 Mar 24 (Loft & Skinning)

guanjin · 14 Apr 2012, 14:24

NEW RELEASE: Curviloft 1.2d - 13 Apr 12

This release marks diagonals in the mesh in ALL generation modes, not just with the PseudoQuad option on. This will better guide mesh reconstruction for usage by the QuadFaceTools by Thomthom and also for Texturing in Mesh UV mode in Thrupaint.

Marking of diagonals is simply to set their edge property with Casts Shadows = false

To summarize

With option Pseudo-Quads on, you force a complete triangulation of the Mesh. Diagonals are marked

In other modes, the mesh is triangulated only where needed. When there is triangulation, the diagonals are also marked.

See main post for download

Fredo

Thank Fredo again update this iconic tool, thank you

Pherim · 19 Apr 2012, 15:48

I know this is still beta but I think the included features are supposed to work in the current version (sorry if I am wrong). However, the option to generate the junction edges of the skinning tool does not work for me. It only generates the first one and then does nothing any more, although the cursor still shows the hourglass symbol. Generating intermediate edges works fine, however. Can you confirm this problem? And if yes, when will this be fixed?

jeff hammond · 19 Apr 2012, 16:50

@pherim said:

I know this is still beta but I think the included features are supposed to work in the current version (sorry if I am wrong). However, the option to generate the junction edges of the skinning tool does not work for me. It only generates the first one and then does nothing any more, although the cursor still shows the hourglass symbol. Generating intermediate edges works fine, however. Can you confirm this problem? And if yes, when will this be fixed?

this feature Does work for me.. can you post the .skp you're having problems with?

Pherim · 19 Apr 2012, 17:01

What I didn't mention is that I want to use it for a flat surface. With contours that would generate a bent surface it works for me, too. But I would like to use it to divide a flat surface in many small faces that match the contours. In the preview it looks just the way I want it but when trying to generate it doesn't work.

Dave R · 19 Apr 2012, 17:08

As Jeff asked, post the SKP file where it doesn't work.

jgb · 20 Apr 2012, 16:54

@pherim said:

What I didn't mention is that I want to use it for a flat surface. With contours that would generate a bent surface it works for me, too. But I would like to use it to divide a flat surface in many small faces that match the contours. In the preview it looks just the way I want it but when trying to generate it doesn't work.

In my experience, CL does not handle perfectly flat surfaces very well. It will surface a "flat" plane if at least 1 vertex is at least .001 in out of planar, and may not show diagonal line(s), up to a point.

The latest version is much better, but the older versions resulted in an empty group when surfacing a very flat perimeter.

As far as dividing the surface into some sort of mesh, that would be a hit/or/miss depending on how "flat" the perimeter is.

Pherim · 23 Apr 2012, 15:10

@dave r said:

As Jeff asked, post the SKP file where it doesn't work.

I'm sorry I was in a hurry when I wrote my last reply and I was unable to look into the forums for the last few days. I have attached a sample file with explaining notes. However, this appears to happen with every flat surface, at least the ones I tried.

Problem with Curviloft Skinning

TIG · 23 Apr 2012, 15:17

I fail to see why you need to use this tool to do this...
If you select one or more edges in the coplanar set... and run one of the several 'add-faces' tools available... it faces almost instantly... If you want to 'mesh' the 'flat' one face then my ExtrudeEdgesByRails will do it thus.No smoothing etc to show messy mesh because of uneven vertices distribution in the two original wavy curves...

Pherim · 23 Apr 2012, 15:38

Yes I tried to do what your ExtrudeEdgesByRails appears to do. Will try it in a minute! I realize that the edges are not perfect for that purpose, but it's just an example file.

edit: It works. Thank you!

jeff hammond · 23 Apr 2012, 17:06

@pherim said:

@dave r said:

As Jeff asked, post the SKP file where it doesn't work.

I'm sorry I was in a hurry when I wrote my last reply and I was unable to look into the forums for the last few days. I have attached a sample file with explaining notes. However, this appears to happen with every flat surface, at least the ones I tried.

[attachment=0:xnznwx1c]Skin_test.skp[/attachment:xnznwx1c]

a workaround you can do at this time is:

select the edges / choose curviLoft 'skinning of shapes'
under Geometry in curviloft, click 'Generate the Junctions as SU Curves' (the last icon in geometry)

this will give you the lines you're seeking, albeit they are softened..
(for purposes of this example, explode the curviloft generated group at this time)

select everything then right-click -> Soften/Smooth edges
set the slider to zero which will unhide the lines..
switch to wireframe mode then select all the lines and copy/move them to a new location..
switch back to a shaded mode and only your curves/junction edges will in the copied set of geometry..

(and maybe the way i described it there sounds worse than doing it in reality.. .. it's pretty quick/painless )

Pherim · 23 Apr 2012, 17:16

Thank you, that worked!

brookefox · 29 Apr 2012, 19:30

Just a quick note of thanks to Fredo. Here's a pic of a modest result which well pleases me.

Merci, monsieur.

brookefox · 30 Apr 2012, 18:11

The pic shows two arc profiles desired to be swept along an arc path in red. Though the two profiles are separate curves, 'loft along path' makes them one when picked. One should be a beginning transitioning to the other as an ending.

fredo6 · 30 Apr 2012, 18:27

@brookefox said:

The pic shows two arc profiles desired to be swept along an arc path in red. Though the two profiles are separate curves, 'loft along path' makes them one when picked. One should be a beginning transitioning to the other as an ending.

It depends on the edge selection you choose (follow or curve) and also you need to click in the empty space to force the separation of the 2 contours since they are contiguous

Fredo

brookefox · 30 Apr 2012, 18:35

I guess there is no way as even if the two arcs are perpendicular to each other it treats them as one.

brookefox · 30 Apr 2012, 18:58

I got the profiles distinguished as you said, but have had no success with the sweep, no matter the settings. But it is a complex tool and I do not have a solid grasp of the variables, to say the least. Merci, Fredo.

brookefox · 1 May 2012, 04:27

@unknownuser said:

It depends on the edge selection you choose (follow or curve) and also you need to click in the empty space to force the separation of the 2 contours since they are contiguous.

OK, I thought I had tried that. I will now for sure. Thank you. For me a work around is to make it in two moves with 'skinning'. Pic shows the desired and thusly achieved results.

brookefox · 2 May 2012, 18:26

Cross post from elsewhere to here, where it may be of some use...model here with Fredo's Curviloft tools and TIG's Extrusion Tools.

artcrazy1313 · 4 Jun 2012, 02:19

Hi Guys
I am new in this scetchup world and I need some help.
I am trying to download .rb in my scetchup8. I do everything it was asked and put in scetchup plugin foldr but for some reason nothing comes out.. Please have someone help me out.
I am also tring to download this .rb for round corners , but cand find a link for download.

TIG · 4 Jun 2012, 08:42

@artcrazy1313 said:

Hi Guys
I am new in this scetchup world and I need some help.
I am trying to download .rb in my scetchup8. I do everything it was asked and put in scetchup plugin foldr but for some reason nothing comes out.. Please have someone help me out.
I am also tring to download this .rb for round corners , but cand find a link for download.
The download link is almost always on the first post in any tools thread [it also has '[Plugin]' at the start of the thread's title]. The Plugins Idex red-button takes you to a page that in turn links off to all plugins available here, and a few elsewhere too...
Be sure to read the tool's download page - sometimes you need to get and install a help file or a library of helpers [like this tool] that are kept in their own subfolder.
Be sure to follow the tool's instructions for download, extraction and placement in the Plugins folder.
If the tool comes in a zip file ensure that the 'loose' files go into the Plugins folder and that any helper files zipped inside a subfolder are put into Plugins still INSIDE that subfolder - never move files around as the tool will break.
You are on a MAC so ensure you are using the right root-level 'HD' library Plugins folder and NOT a 'user' one...
There are several helpful threads about installing scripts/plugins - do a forum Search.
Thomthom has also made a 'Simple Installer' tool [>=v8M2 only] that will automatically install scripts and extract/install from archives of scripts - look for that in the Plugins Index...
Note that some tools [like this one] are Extensions that need activating [one-time-only] from the Window > Preferences dialog, then the tool's Toolbar probably needs activating from the View...menu item...
Note also how each tool is activated/used...
Many new tools do appear in the Plugins-menu... BUT many do not - for example the menu items for this very tool are found in Tools > Fredo Collection > CurviLoft submenu !!!