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

Dave R

Ok, I missed the subtle distinction there.

Or I might have. that's just the way I read his comment, though.

mitcorb

That's the problem with language, especially across cultures, and so forth. We should just switch to mental telepathy and cut out the stumbling blocks of spelling, grammar, semantics and time to type.

Dave R

I knew you were going to type that.

bowlr

Dave R

Thanks for pointing this out, much appreciated

fredo6

@mitcorb said:

Quote:"Also, for me, it is better if users can move to latest versions because it is easier to support."

Fredo endquote

I agree in principle on this statement. However, I must consider more than just upgrading to SU8. My hardware is going beyond outdated, and the logistics of migrating what I have accumulated is not trivial for me.

As Dave relevantly mentioned. I was talking about my Plugins. If you use the latest version of LibFredo6 and of the scripts, it is easier for me to reproduce possible bugs and issues.

For SU, I try as much as possible to have them working with most SU versions (most work in SU 6 and even SU5).

Fredo

Pherim

I just successfully used Loft along Path for the first time! (That means I used it for the first time and it worked immediately, not that I have tried it several times without success)
It is simply awesome. This has to be one of the best plugins ever!

make.GQ.china

Great! A useful plug-in

jason_maranto

Hey Fredo, I have a file here with some geometry that gave me a hard time -- and I also have some examples of how I got it to work to a tolerable level but certainly not what I had envisioned.

I'm sure user error was responsible to a degree but I though I'd share it with you if it helps debug at all.

Best,
Jason.

loft issue.skp

fredo6

@jason_maranto said:

Hey Fredo, I have a file here with some geometry that gave me a hard time -- and I also have some examples of how I got it to work to a tolerable level but certainly not what I had envisioned.

I'm sure user error was responsible to a degree but I though I'd share it with you if it helps debug at all.

Best,
Jason.

Jason,

Thanks. This is a good example which shows some limitations of Curviloft (and it's not your errors at all!).

You probably have to do it in 2 parts, as you did. First part should be with the option 'Line junction' and second part with Cubic Bezier, but you should simply skip the last profile before the rear face of the hull.

Alternatively, you can take some inspiration of what it could give with the two other methods: Skinning and Loft along Path.
Jason Hull2.gif
In any case, I would suggest that you redraw the long profile to show more continuity at the junction(maybe with a single piece of spline).

Fredo

loft issue - Fredio.skp

jason_maranto

Thank-you again... that was very helpful and led me in a different direction that worked much better.

I have another file for you -- I suspect this is asking for too much

Best,
Jason.

Interesting_loft.skp

fredo6

@jason_maranto said:

I have another file for you -- I suspect this is asking for too much

Jason,

This is definitely too much for Curviloft. The only way to achieve it on this kind of model is to draw intermediate profiles and use Skinning.

Indeed, you have to figure out how these intermediate profiles should be. But anyway, there are so many solutions to skin your shape that any program would need some guidance.

Fredo

jason_maranto

Thanks Fredo, this is all magic to me -- so many of the things Curviloft can do didn't seem possible in Sketchup to me just a few weeks ago... I might have gotten a bit carried away by your wizardry

I did get it to skin in a few configurations but nothing I was completely satisfied with.

BTW I have noticed on my system that has an ATI Firepro (workstation video card) the vertex matching function is very temperamental -- when I switch to my system that uses a Nvidia Quadro it is very smooth.

Best,
Jason.

thomthom

@jason_maranto said:

BTW I have noticed on my system that has an ATI Firepro (workstation video card) the vertex matching function is very temperamental -- when I switch to my system that uses a Nvidia Quadro it is very smooth.

Visual glitches?
If so - screenshots?

jason_maranto

I'll record a video example when I get to the studio.

Best,
Jason.

ale 3D

hi! your plugs are really more than better and usefull many THANX!

jason_maranto

Here's a video showing the issue:

Took down the link to conserve bandwidth

Best,
Jason.

wfiinch

Just installed Curviloft into my SU8 and am excited as all hell about the possibilities!

One question: I need to apply a directional material (wood grain) to the new surface. It applies the pattern to each individual facet, sometimes in the wrong direction. How do I change the pattern direction on a Curviloft surface?

Okay another question: what exactly is the Sketchup structure of a curviloft surface? Can I explode it?

Thanks!...and good job on the plugin!

Gaieus

It comes in as a group and yes, you can explode it. Turn on hidden geometry (View menu) to se the structure.

As for texturing it, you need to apply the texture to the surface itself (groups with curved geometry cannot be textured from outside without the texture being applied chaotically). Even on the surface, most probably you need to turn on hidden geometry, apply the texture on one facet; position it then sample and apply on the other facets. Depending on the complexity of the shape, it may take a while - or you can use some UV mapping tool for it.

fredo6

By the way, I normally fixed this issue of coplanar contours on the horizontal plane in Curviloft 1.1.

This was signaled by Pilou with a workaround by Diego-Rodriguez

Fredo

tulacong

thank goodluck