@gaieus said:

Could you share this file? I am not promising anything just thinking.

You'll find it attached. I have no problem doing it the difficult way (with all of the precise input as mitcorb mentioned), but I've had such success with finding the appropriate plugin for difficult tasks I was hoping there would be one for something like this.

If there isn't, I may end up using Curve Shearing for each individual segment and see how that goes. Its not automatic, but its the easiest thing I can think of for the time being.

Curvilinear Path Example

I guess it would have been smarter and easier just to post an image of what I'm trying to achieve, please see attachment.

The blue line indicates the flat curvilinear path (z-value of 0). Each of the black lines are along the vertical axis and have an endpoint of varying heights. I'm looking for a plugin that would allow me to select the flat curvilinear path, then select the vertical lines, and the plugin's outcome would be a new curvilinear path that follows that of the existing flat curves, but ascends and descends based upon the height of the endpoint of the vertical lines. Essentially turning that flat curvilinear path into one with varying elevations. Hopefully that makes more sense.

Does such a plugin exist? Thanks again.

Hi all,
This seems like it'll only need a quick response, but we'll see. I'm looking to create a curved line, floating in space, that slopes to varying Z-heights along its path, dependent on the heights I prescribe. I guess the easiest way to describe it is that I'm trying to create a single-line path that would look sort of like a roller coaster.

How I have it set up so far: I've drawn a series of flat curves (height of 0) around my project site. At the end points of each curve I have created a vertical line up to a specified height. In my head I can weld these curves together to create a path, and then initiate a plugin that would allow me to select the flat curved path and the vertical lines, which would result in the ascending and descending curved line I mentioned above.

It seems like a very easy request, I just don't know of the proper plugin to create it. Any ideas?

For a little background, I plan on using this floating curved line to create a sloping camera path from which I'll use SU Animate to generate scenes from for a walkthrough video.

Thanks!

@unknownuser said:

You need Shape Bender by Chris Fullmer.
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=18210&hilit=shape+bender

Oh, wow. Yeah, I had ShapeBender and had tried to use it but ended up with a wonky result. Turns out all I needed to do was play with my width line on the red axis a little more and then use the up/down arrow keys to adjust.

Thank you for the help, and the incredibly quick response.

I can't figure out how to do something, which seems like it would be so simple with the right .rb, so I was hoping the collective knowledge of this board could help!

Essentially, I am trying to bend a plane to match the curve of a curved line, ultimately creating a concave vertical sail-type structure. Attached you'll find a small image that illustrates the starting point, with the plane in the background and the curve I'd like to bend it to in the foreground.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!