Thickener-like function

jmucchiello

The Thickener product is fun but as usual, I want it to something it probably can't.

If I create a plane primative and apply a cutout opacity image, for example, the cutout is the silhouette of a person in white and the rest of the area is black. Is possible to turn that no longer square shaped plane into a 3D object? So I end up with a "thick" silhouette.

barbult

You might me able to use that opacity mask as a displacement strength mask, but you would need a very dense mesh plane to get smooth edges.

WendyLuvsCatz

someone needs to make Cutouts (a Carrara plugin) for DAZ Studio 

it creates blimps from alpha png images and black and white masks

if you have Zbrush there alternatively is the alpha to mesh procedure 

no idea if Blender has a function or plugin to do this

Casual has a script for D|S that almost does it on flat subdivided planes

https://sites.google.com/site/mcasualsdazscripts9/mcjimagebaseddelete

Seven193

You're trying to thicken a cutout?  For smooth edges, I would first vectorize the cutout using an image tracer. You can find free image trace tools that work online.  Then convert that vector into 3D. Then back to the Thickener tool.

jmucchiello

Seven193 said:

You're trying to thicken a cutout?  For smooth edges, I would first vectorize the cutout using an image tracer. You can find free image trace tools that work online.  Then convert that vector into 3D. Then back to the Thickener tool.

I don't know what most of this means. Nor how to import a vectorized image from an image tracer. Nor how to convert a vector to 3D. If I can convert it to 3D why wouldn't I thicken it in that tool? Whatever that tool is. 

Seven193

You said you're using plugin:

https://www.daz3d.com/thickener-plug-in

And it only works on 3D geometry. It doesn't thicken 2D image cutouts. So I gave a solution to convert your 2D cutout to 3D.

crosswind

PNG / Vector files can be easily converted to 3D mesh in Blender, it's a quick and totally free way. Search "blender image to mesh" on youtube, you may find lots of tutorials. You can get it done in a couple of minutes. Then thicken the mesh in Blender or import OBJ into DS, thicken it by using Thickener.

WendyLuvsCatz

crosswind said:

PNG / Vector files can be easily converted to 3D mesh in Blender, it's a quick and totally free way. Search "blender image to mesh" on youtube, you may find lots of tutorials. You can get it done in a couple of minutes. Then thicken the mesh in Blender or import OBJ into DS, thicken it by using Thickener.

yes, this is what the Carrara cutouts plugin and Zbrush Alpha to mesh does but being Blender it's free 

you want a cookie cutter not a whole sheet

V3Digitimes

If you want to do it in Daz Studio (just tested), you could work on a very subdivided (when you create your primitive) and paint the offset you want direcly on it using the "new push modifier weight node", go in "Node Weight Map Brush" of "Tools Settings Pane", then click on Add Map and paint on this map the positive or negative offset you want. (hold alt for negative). You cannot be very precise unless you are super subdivided because the facets are offset front or back.

jmucchiello

Seven193 said:

You said you're using plugin:

https://www.daz3d.com/thickener-plug-in

And it only works on 3D geometry. It doesn't thicken 2D image cutouts. So I gave a solution to convert your 2D cutout to 3D.

It does "thicken" them. It just doesn't follows the outline, instead it creates a clear 3D rectangular solid between the front and the back.

jmucchiello

crosswind said:

PNG / Vector files can be easily converted to 3D mesh in Blender, it's a quick and totally free way. Search "blender image to mesh" on youtube, you may find lots of tutorials. You can get it done in a couple of minutes. Then thicken the mesh in Blender or import OBJ into DS, thicken it by using Thickener.

Having never downloaded Blender. I doubt I could get it done in "a couple of minutes". But that's for the confidence in me. :) 

jmucchiello

V3Digitimes said:

If you want to do it in Daz Studio (just tested), you could work on a very subdivided (when you create your primitive) and paint the offset you want direcly on it using the "new push modifier weight node", go in "Node Weight Map Brush" of "Tools Settings Pane", then click on Add Map and paint on this map the positive or negative offset you want. (hold alt for negative). You cannot be very precise unless you are super subdivided because the facets are offset front or back.

 How "very" subdivided. I tried to create a plane with many subdivisions and Daz just crashed. So less than 10,000 I suppose?