generate mesh around vertex lines to make 3D lines like pipes

creativecortex_354c96ff23

Let's say I make a sphere in the Vertex modeller. 

I use the key combination CTRL+SHIFT+F to unfill the polygons leaving only the vertices and the lines connecting them.

But I want to be able generate a mesh that thickens the lines so I have what looks like a sphere constructed from pipes.

Is there a way to do this in Carrara? Are you aware of a Plugin I could use?

Many thanks.

cdordoni

I don't believe Carrara can do this. It's odd since Carrara's tools share many similarities with Hexagon. If you have Hexagon, the Thickness tool will also work on lines.

There are several free apps that will do this, all of which are unmentionable here unfortunately.

WendyLuvsCatz

cdordoni said:

I don't believe Carrara can do this. It's odd since Carrara's tools share many similarities with Hexagon. If you have Hexagon, the Thickness tool will also work on lines.

There are several free apps that will do this, all of which are unmentionable here unfortunately.

why unmentionable?

I am pretty sure Blender can do it, it does everything else ........ if you know the keyboard shortcut 

cdordoni

Somehow I was under the impression that mentioning non Daz apps that have similar capabilities (even if they are free) as a Daz product is against the TOS.

WendyLuvsCatz

offsite commercial  links the issue

Blender is ok as open source and free

Samuel S.

cdordoni said:

 

I am not sure if there is any direct command to do this in Carrara. I was able to do some sort of quick pipe like strcuture from Empty Sphere using dynamic Extrude:

1- Select full object, 2- Apply dynamic extrude, 3- Select full object again, 4- Apply dynamic extrude again

Thickness can be applyed to polygons; we just have to try with very small values. Archi tools plug-in Velouté 2 can also create some sort of structures like that and alphas do help as well to hide unwanted surfaces.

 

Stezza

something like this?

I just did the sphere selected the polylines extract around edge.. then deleted the polys and then added thickness at 0.07 

 

 

Samuel S.

Stezza said:

something like this?

I just did the sphere selected the polylines extract around edge.. then deleted the polys and then added thickness at 0.07 

 

 

Nice, Looks pretty good!

creativecortex_354c96ff23

cdordoni said:

I don't believe Carrara can do this. It's odd since Carrara's tools share many similarities with Hexagon. If you have Hexagon, the Thickness tool will also work on lines.

There are several free apps that will do this, all of which are unmentionable here unfortunately.

Thank you. I do have Hexagon. I'll try it there!

creativecortex_354c96ff23

I Samuel said:

cdordoni said:

 

I am not sure if there is any direct command to do this in Carrara. I was able to do some sort of quick pipe like strcuture from Empty Sphere using dynamic Extrude:

1- Select full object, 2- Apply dynamic extrude, 3- Select full object again, 4- Apply dynamic extrude again

Thickness can be applyed to polygons; we just have to try with very small values. Archi tools plug-in Velouté 2 can also create some sort of structures like that and alphas do help as well to hide unwanted surfaces.

 

Thanks for this suggestion, I will give that a try also.

creativecortex_354c96ff23

Stezza said:

something like this?

I just did the sphere selected the polylines extract around edge.. then deleted the polys and then added thickness at 0.07 

 

 

Thanks, great suggestion, will have a go.

mindsong

re: philemo's dynamic hair converter, could this 'trick' be used to make the tube-hairs someone suggested from the flats? without generating zillions of additional polys?

just a curious thought...
 

(thanks to stezza for the cool technique! - is that in carrara or hex, or ?)

--ms

Stezza

in Carrara 

 

 

mindsong said:

(thanks to stezza for the cool technique! - is that in carrara or hex, or ?)

--ms

 

Samuel S.

Stezza said:

something like this?

I just did the sphere selected the polylines extract around edge.. then deleted the polys and then added thickness at 0.07 

Thanks for suggestion; I modeled and textured attached structure quickly in Carrara using the technique which you mentioned.

 

Stezza

cool, very alien like..... 

Samuel S.

Stezza said:

cool, very alien like..... 

Thanks; I just play with Carrara tools for fun with my limited 3D experience and sometimes they end up something strange like Alien or Fantasy stuff etc.; mostly low poly game suitable objects or meshes.  Carrara's procedural textures does help too :)

 

 

 

wgdjohn

Stezza said:

something like this?

I just did the sphere selected the polylines extract around edge.. then deleted the polys and then added thickness at 0.07 

Cool.   Would your thickness be feet or meters or what?  I'm gonna have to give that a try.

Samuel,  kewl stucture.

Stezza

good question John.... I dunno  

 

I guess that as my default setting is for metric so maybe it could be that but I'm just guessing. 

rock livrette

Whatever I tried, the vertex modeller in Carrara simply wasn't the right tool. I never got real pipes, just some squared something that looked more or less like pipes. But I found out, that the spline modeller is a good tool for this task. And it has an advantage against the vertext modeller (later more on this). So the spline modeller: 1. Draw a circle as guide to place the origins for the pipes, center it.  2.Place the longitude pipes where you want them to be, with a diameter you think is appropriate.   3. Delete the guide circle   4. Jump out of the spline modeller. In the scene copy and paste the spline modell (do not duplicate it!). In the new, second spline modell delete all exept the one in the middle (preparation for the altitude pipes)  5. Apply torus to the longitude pipes  6. Apply torus (with the same settings) to the altitude pipe. Back in the scene rotate it.  7. Well...ok...but.... some altitude pipes are still missing....  8.Duplicate and rotate the altitude pipe (better "dublicate" not "copy paste")   9. Voila!   

10. Here is the advantage when working with the spline modeller (in this case!): it is nondestructive - you can always change the diameter, the amount, the position of the pipes afterwards.

When you take a closer look at pictures 5 and 7 you might notice that the pipe-rings are not perfect circles, in fact the smallest one is more like a square. That is a special "feature" in the spline modeller - the torus might not work as you expect it to do, even when you crank up surface fidelity to 5000. Solution: Add more points to the sweep path - the more and the more regular you place them the better the circle.

Samuel S.

wgdjohn said:

Stezza said:

Samuel,  kewl stucture.

Thanks, I just wanted to mention that I also applied level 1 smooth to the structure as is shown in the image.

Samuel S.

rock livrette said:

Whatever I tried, the vertex modeller in Carrara simply wasn't the right tool. I never got real pipes, just some squared something that looked more or less like pipes. But I found out, that the spline modeller is a good tool for this task. And it has an advantage against the vertext modeller (later more on this). So the spline modeller: 1. Draw a circle as guide to place the origins for the pipes, center it.  2.Place the longitude pipes where you want them to be, with a diameter you think is appropriate.   3. Delete the guide circle   4. Jump out of the spline modeller. In the scene copy and paste the spline modell (do not duplicate it!). In the new, second spline modell delete all exept the one in the middle (preparation for the altitude pipes)  5. Apply torus to the longitude pipes  6. Apply torus (with the same settings) to the altitude pipe. Back in the scene rotate it.  7. Well...ok...but.... some altitude pipes are still missing....  8.Duplicate and rotate the altitude pipe (better "dublicate" not "copy paste")   9. Voila!   

10. Here is the advantage when working with the spline modeller (in this case!): it is nondestructive - you can always change the diameter, the amount, the position of the pipes afterwards.

When you take a closer look at pictures 5 and 7 you might notice that the pipe-rings are not perfect circles, in fact the smallest one is more like a square. That is a special "feature" in the spline modeller - the torus might not work as you expect it to do, even when you crank up surface fidelity to 5000. Solution: Add more points to the sweep path - the more and the more regular you place them the better the circle.

Cool; I will also try this option too.

rock livrette

Since we're talking about it: the same method (spline) works for cages too. Align the pipes origins and import an ai. square/rectangle as sweep path.

wgdjohn

rock,  that's cool... I just don't get out of the VM often enough to learn much in the spline editor.

I was messing around to get something similar to the original mesh desired in VM using replicate earlier this year.  See Here for full description in my Modeling Objects in Carrara - Q&A - Come One and All thread.  I have the settings there and some more info... here is what I came up with one evening...

I ought to give Boolean a try to join them rather than just running the loops through each other... see if I can't cut down the poly count.

 

dot_bat

if you have hexagon you will be able to just add thickness

 

wgdjohn

Can you end up with nice circular spokes for a sphere or will they be rectangular?  Please provide some instruction as to what needs to be done... I'm Hexagon Illierate... I always seem to be able to crash it fairly easily... that's my fault mostly since I don't know yet what "not to" do or "to" do to have better luck.

Have you come up with a sphere that you have a pick of?  How long did it take to get a nice smooth object?  I'm very curious as I have also just tried in Carrara using add thickness... I think with some creative extra edges and even creasing some, perhaps a lot, and enough time I can come up with something I'd be happy with.  Giving it another go before hitting the sack.

Vyusur

That's what I've made in hex

wgdjohn

Very nice.  I'll have to work harder to learn a few tools in Hex for special circumstances.  Hmm... I wonder If Silo can do it also... I need to get going with it also.

Here is what I just finished in Carrara.  I got in a hurry and haven't tried any creasing just yet. Details are in my modeling thread again... Here.

 

Vyusur

I modeled this construction within half an hour. I used sweep tool for the columns and I used Stezza's method for the roof.

Stezza

awesome @vyusur 

Vyusur

Stezza said:

awesome @vyusur 

Thank you very much!

 

Samuel S.

Great Work!