PDA

View Full Version : extrude mesh along normals + layer control


tom_c
06-18-2005, 10:07 AM
Hi guys,

really liking Modo, just getting stuck on a few things, sorry if ive missed something obvious:

- can you extrude multiple polys each along their own normal? like bevel but keeping the original face? Its something I always do in maya - have shell of polys, extrude all polys along normals with 'keep together' on, then you have a nice 'thick' version of the mesh. This also works with closed meshes so you can make hollow objects etc...

I know you can do this in 'thick' mode with theh extrude tool, but all polys seem to be extruded in the same global direction. They need to move along their respective normals...

- is there a modifier+click method of switching the current layer? The layers thing is great when your working on an single object, but if you have a more than two layers, it feels really long winded. especially as you always loose sight of other layers each time you change your active one. It woud be nice if the BG flag for a layer was sticky across layer selections.

- please please please can we have a smart handle with move/rotate/scale for extrude etc...

Other than that though, big thumbs up!

many thanks in advance
:)
Tom

c-g
06-18-2005, 04:16 PM
Use the bevel tool and turn on group bevel. Does that give you what you want?

tom_c
06-18-2005, 09:18 PM
hey, thanks for the reply - it kind of does, but it looses the faces you start from... so you end up with a front, sides and no back...

:)

cheers,
Tom

leuey
06-19-2005, 06:17 AM
Flip your polys so the normal is facing inward (f), then copy them (ctrl - c), then flip them back (f), bevel them (b) to desired thickness (with group polys on), paste your 'inside polys' back (ctrl-v), merge your vertices (press f5 and enter vert.merge "auto" , or go to the geometry->vertex menu and select merge.) You could also use the merge tool with a low threshhold and just click and drag...

it's probaby a good idea to asign vert.merge "auto" to a hotkey or pie menu.

You can also use the 'push' tool under mesh deform. This will scale the polys along their normal - if you don't need to create new geometry like bevel.

-Greg

tom_c
06-19-2005, 08:52 AM
ahh, that makes sense, thanks Greg. Im sensing some script writing coming on...

many many thanks
:-)
Tom

jamesvalue
06-19-2005, 10:51 AM
Maya (as well as other 3d sw) for extruding faces uses multiple actions center (one for each face) , Modo don't!(only one for all selections, but indeed very advanced)


So the extrude command whithin Modo , works for one face at a time only , in case of multiple faces selected , you can use the "shift" tool , or the bevel tool whith 0=inset and group polys=off
Bye

tom_c
06-19-2005, 10:55 AM
hi james, thanks for the tips.

the bevel way is fine (with group polys) except it doesnt duplicate the starting faces. And it doesnt work with closed meshes.

:-)
cheers,
Tom

jamesvalue
06-19-2005, 11:00 AM
hi james, thanks for the tips.

the bevel way is fine (with group polys) except it doesnt duplicate the starting faces. And it doesnt work with closed meshes.

:-)
cheers,
Tom

Try to remove the "group polys" option , or as well , try the "shift" tool (not the smoot shift!)

Bye

tom_c
06-19-2005, 05:49 PM
Hi James,

with that turned off - each poly becomes a separate extrusion... Seems like gregs method is the easiest.

Thanks though :)
tom

jamesvalue
06-19-2005, 07:02 PM
Hi James,

with that turned off - each poly becomes a separate extrusion...
tom

Isn't that , what you asked inside your first post? (if not.........sorry!)

Bye

jamesvalue
06-19-2005, 07:11 PM
Hi guys,

really liking Modo, just getting stuck on a few things, sorry if ive missed something obvious:

- can you extrude multiple polys each along their own normal?
:)
Tom

Probably I understood!

So you only have to choose the right action center for your bevellings.

But your choose must occur before bevelling operations (try the "selection" action center)

Bye

CGTalk Moderation
06-19-2005, 07:11 PM
This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.