| Defining points as new spline
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 | Defining points as new spline
by Mark Simpson on Jul 7, 2001 at 1:39:37 pm |
Is there a way to select a set of points on an object (say, along the circumference of a sphere), and then define them as a new spline?
Mark Simpson
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• | | | |  | Re: Defining points as new spline
by thorn on Jul 7, 2001 at 6:24:12 pm |
Almost.
Select the points on the sphere. Now use the copy/paste function in the structure manager to copy the points.
Create an empty spline object.
Back in the structure manager, Paste the points.
Now the points are on the spline, but likely not in the best order... use drag/drop in the manager to re-order them.
thorn
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• | | | | | Re: Great Plug in idea
by Mark Simpson on Jul 7, 2001 at 8:52:54 pm |
This would make a great plug-in, if those of you who might be so inclined are lurking about and are looking to create something useful for the masses... :)
Mark Simpson
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Hi Mark,
I agree. This is actually my reason for wanting to learn to write my own plug-ins. I would like to be able to do exactly what you are trying to do, as well as to take it one step further and create "dynamic splines" that are linked to, or generated from, specified points on a reference object (say the points on the circumfrence of your sphere.) Then even as the object is moved, resized, deformed, etc., the spline will follow.
I'll certainly post my solution once I come up with it, but lets hope that someone who already knows what they're doing takes it on. Since I've just begun to learn this stuff, it may take a while before I can doing anything useful with it.
Oh, and BTW, I have not had any success in creating a spline from the points on an object as per Thorn's instructions. I select the points on an object; go to the structure manager and select edit>copy; create an empty spline object; go to the structure manager and select edit>paste. Nothing happens. Am I missing something real obvious here?
Cheers,
---Mark
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• | | | | | Re: Great Plug in idea
by Mark Simpson on Jul 8, 2001 at 5:37:47 am |
Hi Mark,
I was trying the split tool and disconnect tool. If I selected points on the object and then used the split tool, a new object consisting of spline points only was created. It showed up as a poly object in the object manager, but was invisible until I selected the points tool, at which time the points appeared, but without a spline. I couldn't figure out how to create a spline form the points.
I thought it would be kinda cool to be able to select some points on an object, crate a spline from those points (leaving the original unchanged), to be extruded, lofted, or whatever.
Unsuccessful so far. I hope you figure it out, as I have a couple of things I've been trying to do, which would be much easier with such a plug I would think.
I have so many things in the pot right now, but it would be nice to be able to spend some time learning to do some programming. For me, I think a classroom situation would be better for this particular subject.
Mark Simpson
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• | | | | | Re: Great Plug in idea
by Anonymous on Jul 8, 2001 at 11:56:20 am |
Make sure the spline is Linear or b-spline before you paste in the structure manager.Then it should work fine.
BTW,this used to be a feature in v5.xx,(PointsToSpline)any idea why it was taken out?
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That did it! Thanks!
---Mark
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• | | | | | Re: Great Plug in idea
by thorn on Jul 9, 2001 at 8:09:34 pm |
No idea, really. Wish it was still there...
FWIW: There's also the "project spline" command... in some cases it may suit your needs better than the copy/paste points approach.
thorn
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• | | | | | Re: Defining points as new spline
by Mark Simpson on Jul 8, 2001 at 5:37:45 pm |
This method definitely works, but if it is a complex spline with a lot of points in it, the reordering thing can get pretty messy. But on the other hand, I imagine it would be difficult to get a plug in to know how you want the points arranged. Then again, intelligent defaults switches (ie, clockwise on the XY plane) could get you most of the way there.
Thanks,
Mark Simpson
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• | | | | | Re: Defining points as new spline
by Donovan Keith on Jul 8, 2001 at 8:39:27 pm |
I personally just create a linear spline, turn on point snapping and manually create the spline by clicking on each point on the poly_obj in order.
Cheers,
Donovan Keith
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