[Plugin] Emboss

[Didier Bur]

Hi there,

Here is a little script I had to code for castle walls made of 'embossed' stones.
Maybe it'll be useful to some of you.
Unzip the Zip file and move the RBS file in your Plugins folder.
Usage:

• select faces (dont't worry if there are other object types in the selection)
• select menu "Tools" > "Emboss"
• fill the dialog and click OK.

11/23/22:
Offset parameter added (see below)

Unzip in your Plugins folder

Have fun!

[Rich O Brien]

For those unfamiliar with installing .zip files or non-rbz files. Go here...

Et voilà

@Didier

I just noticed you were never added to the Extension Author group here .

I've added you now so you have access to the Dev Tools area to upload/update .rbz file to the ExtensionStore if you wish.

If its not something you want let me know and I'll restore your old privileges.

[HornOxx]

Thanks Didier Bur for making and sharing this so nice plugin
And thanks Rich for the how to install it...

Only, I dont get it istalled or even to run somehow and I am seeing a rbs-file for the first time. Could someone please show me how to proceed here?

---

[Didier Bur]

@Rich:

Thank you for adding me to the Extension Author group (I didn't know it exists )
Regards

[Didier Bur]

@HornOxx:

A RBS file is an encrypted Ruby file which behaves just like a RB file.
I use 7-Zip to compress/uncompress archives, but any other Zip will also extract the file(s).

• double-click on the Zip
  -drag and drop the file into your Plugins folder and that's it.
• restart SU.
  Regards,

Double-click below to see the video:

[Rich O Brien]

@hornoxx said:

Could someone please show me how to proceed here?

When you use the Archive installer menu option in Sketchucation Tools make sure you pick the bossage.zip file. Not the unzipped bossage.rbs file.

Our Archive installer will only work with .zip and .rbz files

[Rich O Brien]

This is a great tool to just generate quick city scape

[ntxdave]

That is pretty neat Rich. I’ll bet Didier Bur had not thought of that one when he developed the plugin.

[HornOxx]

@didier bur said:

@HornOxx:
A RBS file is an encrypted Ruby file which behaves just like a RB file...

Thanks Didier Bur for your guidance and the help out of my own dullness and again for your nice and well running tool

[Didier Bur]

@unknownuser said:

I’ll bet Didier Bur had not thought of that one when he developed the plugin.

Of course NOOOO...

[FlorinAp]

This is a great idea, to make grooves I often had to take a few steps, but with this one... in just one step.
But, Sketchup sometimes freezes with this one installed, but when not, it certainly messes with Fredo's Lord of the Toolbars all the time... so I had to disable it (rename the extension, because it does not stay disabled.

P.S.: All DBUR extensions I've tried (and use) so far do not run from a folder other than the native one (except Align_2D_3D and Align_2D).
For this thing I use TT Extension Sources, which is in fact the only true Extension Manager that Sketchup has; the native one is just a shame.

[kesztio]

Hi Didier,

First of all, thank you for the Emboss plugin — it is one of the very few SketchUp tools that preserves vertex topology perfectly.
I’m using it for precision modeling, and the way it keeps the original curve structure intact is extremely valuable.

I’ve found one issue that only appears with concave shapes.
On convex curves the embossing works flawlessly, but on concave sections the displacement direction becomes inverted or distorted.

Below are two screenshots:

This is how the emboss should look (approximately, made by hand):

This is what Emboss actually generates on the same concave shape:

The difference is only in the normal direction handling at concave vertices.
If the algorithm could detect concave angles and flip the displacement direction accordingly, the result would be perfect.

Would it be possible to adjust the normal calculation so concave vertices receive a correct inward/outward direction as well?

If you need test models or more examples, I’m happy to provide them.

Thank you again for your work — this plugin is already incredibly useful.

Best regards,
Zoltán