Free form deformation balloon

CPhillips · 1 Dec 2007, 06:01

One of my favorite plugins from my 3dsMax days was FFD or Free Form Deform. It is great for making non-uniform shapes or for stretching and bending objects like they are made from taffy.

Look about half way down on this page for images that show some of what you can do with FDD.
http://www.cs.unc.edu/~geom/ffd/

Turns out the algorithm isn't that complicated once you understand it. Well, at least I understand it. I wrote a very sweet version in ruby that is only a few functions and 200 lines of code.

But it will need a lot of UI work to make it a real plugin. Is there any interest? Would you pay a few bucks for it?

Chris

architectboy · 1 Dec 2007, 06:02

It would be an awesome script , but I wouldn't pay for it.

gata · 1 Dec 2007, 06:02

Yes. While I can manipulate tools to get the same results, this would be a nice additional tool.

Would it be able to work on selected bits of a model or only on an entire chunk of geometry?

Burkhard · 1 Dec 2007, 06:04

I think I would.

humanticnc · 1 Dec 2007, 06:05

If it kind of worked like in the given examples (using those "handles" to manipulate the forms), I'd definitely pay for a script like that.

CPhillips · 1 Dec 2007, 06:06

@gata said:

Yes. While I can manipulate tools to get the same results, this would be a nice additional tool.

Would it be able to work on selected bits of a model or only on an entire chunk of geometry?

It would work on a single group or all selected elements that are not a group. If you follow.

CPhillips · 1 Dec 2007, 06:06

@humanticnc said:

If it kind of worked like in the given examples (using those "handles" to manipulate the forms), I'd definitely pay for a script like that.

Thats the tricky bit.

Alright. I think Ill start it and see how it goes.

Chris

gata · 1 Dec 2007, 06:08

Something that I was thinking, using the cow example, could just the mid-section be selected to make her pregnant?

Often when sculpting in SU, I like to be able to do my manipulations/tweaking inside the protective confines of a group or component. Otherwise it's very easy to be overly focused on geometry in front of you and accidentally delete something in the distance.

humanticnc · 1 Dec 2007, 06:09

@cphillips said:

@humanticnc said:

If it kind of worked like in the given examples (using those "handles" to manipulate the forms), I'd definitely pay for a script like that.

Thats the tricky bit.

Alright. I think Ill start it and see how it goes.

Chris

I am waiting patiently
kecsaphu (humanticnc)

kwistenbiebel · 1 Dec 2007, 06:10

Not sure if I want to pay for it but it definitely sounds great to be able to 'Skew' objects.
Very nice idea!

boofredlay · 1 Dec 2007, 06:11

That looks like a great tool if you can do it.

monsterzero · 1 Dec 2007, 06:11

I'd pay for this (depending on price). Normally, I would export from SU to Maya to do this. A plugin would make my life a lot easier. My comic project will generate somewhere around 450 separate SU files and I would love to deform each one.

[monsterzero]

CPhillips · 1 Dec 2007, 06:12

This project is on hold while I work on SketchyPhysics. I got it to the point that the deformation works. But it needs a UI where you can move the control points.

If anyone wants to take it on they can have the code lock stock and barrel. If not I'll try to get back to it by the end of the year.

Chris

JClements · 29 Jan 2008, 15:21

YES, I would pay!

One concern is the skewing handles and the relationship to SU axis.

Fletch · 29 Jan 2008, 23:03

@unknownuser said:

I would definitely pay for this if the functions would be the same as on that page you referenced. I have always wanted to skew objects with the Scale tool but couldn't.

yeah I added that to the SU7 wish list.

CPhillips · 30 Jan 2008, 01:50

I did some more work on this a month or so ago. Unfortunately the approach I took was really really slow. Minutes to process a model with a few thousand verts. I need to go back and try to optimize it at some point.

Chris

CPhillips · 30 Jan 2008, 09:11

I worked on it a bit tonight and got the speed up to the point it might be useable. Here is an example using a model I use as a test case.

It still needs a lot of work. Starting with the UI.

BentDeer.zip

Daniel S · 30 Jan 2008, 11:27

Hi Chris!!!

Great Script!!! I wonder what happens in very simple models like a cube... Subdivides the faces? or not working in this cases?

Daniel S
PS. I attach a image.. the result of moving three control points on a cube will give a result like this?

CPhillips · 30 Jan 2008, 17:46

@daniel s said:

Hi Chris!!!

Great Script!!! I wonder what happens in very simple models like a cube... Subdivides the faces? or not working in this cases?

Daniel S
PS. I attach a image.. the result of moving three control points on a cube will give a result like this?

It doesn't subdivide faces. That would be even slower.

The more faces you have the better the results.

fredo6 · 1 Feb 2008, 21:53

It seems that at least you triangulate the faces, from what I could judge with the deer's kees (and the few faces that were not triangular in the original model).
This is a great tool, and judging from the video, the performance are more than "better"! (compared for instance to a simple shear of the model, that would take 40 seconds with a Ruby script). I imagine that you use a compiled version in C++).
I would encourage you to continue on this path, really!
If you need some help for the GUI, just post a description of what you need and I am sure we would find a way to contribute.