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Tiziano
01-22-2006, 01:16 AM
So I'm going back to the basics to fill in the massive gaps in my learning curve. Among others I'm using Anne Powers C4d book. My current studies are on the deformers (bulge at present). I'm trying to get a spherical bulge to move up a pipe shape. So far I'm succeeding with the movement but I'm having problems with the shape.

I can't get the shape to look spherical and I also get areas where the deformer 'bulges' unexpectedly leaving me with either dents or point-like extrusions.

Also, when I check 'tangental' in the align to spline tag, the deformer doesn't seem to rotate around the spline as it travels but when it crosses a point on the spline it flips its axis.

Can someone take a look at the attached file and tell me what I'm doing wrong please?

Here's an example of the dent/extrusions. If I reduce the strength down to 0% the weirdness goes away (along with the bulge I want of course :D ).
http://www.jmtype.com/bulge.png
tcastudios
01-22-2006, 01:27 AM
As soon as somethig flips along a spline/object using AlignToSpline, the axis of the spline is wrong.

Create a Circle spline and note it's axis in AM. Switch it to "XZ". Now anything Aligned to it moves correct and you can rotate it however you like.


Cheers
Lennart
Tiziano
01-22-2006, 01:45 AM
Create a Circle spline and note it's axis in AM. Switch it to "XZ". Now anything Aligned to it moves correct and you can rotate it however you like.
Thanks Lennart but are we thinking of the same problem? My spline is a Beizer and there's no axis to switch that I see in the AM. When I select the Align To Spline tag and 'tangental' in the AM then I get the axis choices. Regardless of which axis I choose I get the following results below.
Image 1 is at the beginning and 2 is when the deformer crosses a spline point.
http://www.jmtype.com/picture 1.png http://www.jmtype.com/picture 2.png
tcastudios
01-22-2006, 01:56 AM
There is always an axis :) Under the ModelTool you have the Object Axis Tool.
Choose that and either by using the Rotete Tool or the CoordinateManager (Not the Coordinates in the AM) turn the axis 90 degrees. In what direction you have to try out.

Cheers
Lennart
Tiziano
01-22-2006, 02:15 AM
There is always an axis :) Under the ModelTool you have the Object Axis Tool.Yup, went that route too. Still have the problem. It must be something I did when I made the model. I'm going to trash the file and start from scratch.
tcastudios
01-22-2006, 02:34 AM
Don't forget the "RailPath" option in the AlignToSpline. It is meant to stear funky movent up!
(Before you trash your scene, try that as well)

Cheers
Lennart
Tiziano
01-22-2006, 02:37 AM
I'll give the Rail path a go.
Regarding the unusual shapes, I figured out that the size of the deformer has to be big enough. My tube was 15m dia and my deformer was 25,25,25. When I bumped that up to 30,30,30 the shape improved quite a bit.
Thanks again Lennart.
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