[Plugin] SketchyFFD (Classic)

JClements

As a convenience it would be nice if you could select one point and then be able to select all of other points that share the same x, y, or z plane.

First thing comes to mind is press "B" for the Blue plane, "R" for the Red plane, or "G" for the Green plane. Also, Ctrl-click another point to add another plane of points or Shift-click to Add or Subtract a plane of points.

linea

Thanks Chris

This is brilliant, works fast on my machine and updates automatically, I don't need to click "update". Is that something you have added?

@unknownuser said:

The only little remark I have with current plugin (besides saying it is awesome ), is that after some manipulation, it starts to become difficult to see which points to move.
It would be great if the control points would stick more to the geometry...I am not sure if my explanation is clear

Is there some benefit in perhaps colouring the points on the ffd cube? I have no idea if it is possible to do this, but for instance, top points blue, north and south points green, east and west points red, bottom face black. Then, when you start manipulating stuff, it would be easier to see which point corresponds to what. Obviously the more complicated the deformation, the less useful this would become.

JClements

Interesting how the points are created with the attached.

The group was rotated, then the axis.

Apply an 2x2 FFD . The points kind of follow the user defined axis.

Group Rotated, then the Axis is rotated.skp

xrok1

now, if you could get the smoove tool to work with this, i'd be really impressed

of coarse you'd have to find a way to unlock the smoove only working in the blue axis, there's the trick

gata

The Smoove tool does work normal to selected geometry. Begin to Smoove something then press Shift. It's in Help http://download.sketchup.com/sketchuphelp/gsu6_win/Content/P-Terrain_Modeling/TerrainTool-Smoover.htm#kanchor392. Select some bits and use Scale. Lots of deformation possibilities with that.

xrok1

gata, thx just saw that post before you posted here. been looking for this method for a long time
BTW, i see no mention of the shift key in the help documentation.Oh wait it is there in greyed out text, had to read it four times plus the numerous times i've looked before.

i'll return a hint to you; use the erase tool on a sandbox or similiar surface, then without releasing the LMB use a shortcut key to change to smoove tool. viola, you have a soft selection for smooving

Now if SK was only useable with more than a couple hundred surfaces i'd throw my other modelling software's away.

Fletch

@xrok1 said:

Now if SK was only useable with more than a couple hundred surfaces i'd throw my other modelling software's away.

at the risk of getting off-topic here, I will just say that I will now have to post (for your view pleasure, xrok, the animation I will finish before noon tomorrow using only SU.

xrok1

i look forward to it.

Fletch

@Xrok... looky here.

putnik

Chris thank you for sharing this script! It doesn't seem to work for me though. It creates a group consisting of just one construction point no matter what I'm trying to manipulate (a cube or a donut), and no matter what option i choose 2x2 or higher. I'm on winXP SketchUp 5.

What am I doing wrong? (using script version from 12 feb, 2008)
TIA

CPhillips

Ok. Ill have a new version soon and Ill post it there.

Chris.

@jim said:

Chris,

Would you start a thread in the Script Depository which contains just the downloads? That way, everyone can find it easily, and you can edit the page when you have an update.

Thanks.

CPhillips

@putnik said:

Chris thank you for sharing this script! It doesn't seem to work for me though. It creates a group consisting of just one construction point no matter what I'm trying to manipulate (a cube or a donut), and no matter what option i choose 2x2 or higher. I'm on winXP SketchUp 5.

What am I doing wrong? (using script version from 12 feb, 2008)
TIA

Hmm. I dont know. Did you group the object? Open the ruby console and try it again to see if it prints any errors. Or post a model that fails and I'll take a look.

Chris

CPhillips

Has anyone actually used this script for anything useful yet?

The reason I ask is I have tried using it for few things and the results have been disappointing. Its ok for distorting shapes comically and making simple terrains. But I tried to make a simple boat hull, something I figured it would be good for, and it was just tedious.

Part of the problem is with more complex deformations (beyond (2x2)) its too difficult to foresee how moving the control points is going to deform the model. It certainly isn't predictable and it makes it difficult to match any but the simplest shape or design.

AND I am thinking that for the simpler (2x2 and 3x3) cases a more specific deformation script would be better. Something that could be done with real-time preview. Simpler deforms include shear, taper, bend, twist, squeeze, and inflate.

Chris

remus

I made that pear, but thats about it so far, i imagine its going to be most useful for more organic shapes where precision isnt entirely necessary.

boofredlay

Chris, I used it on these guys and I they have been downloaded a good many times; so thank you.
http://www.formfonts.com/viewModel.php?id=9081&config=2&action=&sub_action=&type=&active=

GreenToaster

WOW!!!

MEGA-THANKS!!!

kwistenbiebel

@cphillips said:

Has anyone actually used this script for anything useful yet?

yes sir,
I am experimenting, trying to deform a wine glass....
The knot itself and the feet and bowl of a straight wine glass are not 'FF' but imports I stitched together.
The deformations ('bending' like operations) to get the glass posed, and also the liquid, are done using FF ( = I rotate some points)
My conclusion is that the current FF is a rough but decent start for organic shaping.

Chris, I think you can indeed only discover what actually needs to be improved by experimenting and trying to model something concrete. In that way, it is more easy to figure out what works and what is needed.

I discovered that the whole object needs to be selected as a FF group. If you only perform FF on a part of the object (for instance the neck of a glass) it will break contact with the rest of the object (loose faces, holes etc...).
Being able to just select what you need transformed does seem the way to go however as the FF operation takes less long (less geometry to FF) and the rest of the object stays untouched.

Here's that experiment I am doing (the resulting mesh is dirty though):

GreenToaster

. . . the shape (the nose of a car) popped into my head - few minutes later this was modeled using SketchUp w/the SketchyFFD script . . . I really, really love that script!!!

THANKS!!!

CPhillips

@greentoaster said:

. . . the shape (the nose of a car) popped into my head - few minutes later this was modeled using SketchUp w/the SketchyFFD script . . . I really, really love that script!!!

THANKS!!!

Thats cool.

I'll have a small update soon. I added a tool to draw an NxN grid with a control point at each grid intersection.

otb designworks

I haven't been paying attention to this thread, as I haven't needed a freeform, control point manipulator yet.

However, I find myself needing to model a very complex tapered helical seashell form. This script is absolutely amazing!!! I don't know how I would have a pulled this off any other way, short of using another piece of software.

THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!! What an awesome piece of scripting.

now, if only Sketchy Physics worked on the mac, too..........