[Plugin Beta] Curviloft 1.2d - 13 Apr 12 (Loft & Skinning)

[thomthom]

You can use this utility to install plugins: viewtopic.php?t=42315

[goodguygreg]

Looks great, BUT WHY WONT IT WORK ON MY PC!!??

[Dave R]

Like most folks who have problems getting plugins to work on their computers, YOU'VE PROBABLY INSTALLED IT WRONG!

If you want it to work you have to give us some useful information so we have something to go on. Tell us what it does. Does it throw up any error messages in the Ruby Console? Show us screen shot of your Plugins directory showing how the plugin is installed. Do you have administrator privileges to add files to the Plugins folder. You need them on Windows 7.

[McGyver]

I just dropped by to say- THANKS AGAIN FREDO!!!
A long time ago I had tried this plugin and could not get it to work... Because- as it turned out, I did not install it correctly... I forgot all about Curviloft and after seeing this post again, I decided to try it again (installed correctly this time).

BEAUTIFUL! Truly a tool to empower the imagination!... At the moment I did not have a specific project to try this on so I just started playing around with various shapes and paths... WOW, so cool... So quick too... and I love the way it shows you what it will look like before you commit to it... nice. So many ideas... now where to start!!??

Thanks!!

[egraves]

Hey Fredo6,

I have just begun using some of your plugins and I am LOVING them!!!

I downloaded Curviloft and the LibFredo6 4.2 and dropped them into the plugins folder on my mac, but when I open SketchUp 8 I receive this message;

Error Loading File __loader.rb
uninitialized constant TraductorError Loading File bootstrap_Curviloft.rb
uninitialized constant Curviloft::T6Error Loading File CurviloftAlgo.rb
uninitialized constant Curviloft::T6Error Loading File CurviloftCurveMover.rb
uninitialized constant Curviloft::T6Error Loading File CurviloftPalette.rb
uninitialized constant Curviloft::T6Error Loading File CurviloftTool.rb
uninitialized constant Curviloft::T6

Any clue on what is going on? Thanks for your help and the great plugins!

- E

[thomthom]

Exactly where did you place the files? The full path please? OR even a screenshot of your plugins folder?
Just about every time someone has problem installing it is because then installed them incorrectly. Either in the wrong location or they didn't maintain folder structure of the zip package.

[fredo6]

NEW RELEASE: Curviloft 1.2d - 13 Apr 12

This release marks diagonals in the mesh in ALL generation modes, not just with the PseudoQuad option on. This will better guide mesh reconstruction for usage by the QuadFaceTools by Thomthom and also for Texturing in Mesh UV mode in Thrupaint.

Marking of diagonals is simply to set their edge property with Casts Shadows = false

To summarize
- With option Pseudo-Quads on, you force a complete triangulation of the Mesh. Diagonals are marked
- In other modes, the mesh is triangulated only where needed. When there is triangulation, the diagonals are also marked.

See main post for download

Fredo

[Rich O Brien]

Thanks Fredo

[EarthMover]

Thanks Fred! Great update to further SU Quad capabilities. Hoping other authors continue with this trend. (hinting Artisan)

[guanjin]

NEW RELEASE: Curviloft 1.2d - 13 Apr 12

This release marks diagonals in the mesh in ALL generation modes, not just with the PseudoQuad option on. This will better guide mesh reconstruction for usage by the QuadFaceTools by Thomthom and also for Texturing in Mesh UV mode in Thrupaint.

Marking of diagonals is simply to set their edge property with Casts Shadows = false

To summarize
- With option Pseudo-Quads on, you force a complete triangulation of the Mesh. Diagonals are marked
- In other modes, the mesh is triangulated only where needed. When there is triangulation, the diagonals are also marked.

See main post for download

Fredo

Thank Fredo again update this iconic tool, thank you

[Pherim]

I know this is still beta but I think the included features are supposed to work in the current version (sorry if I am wrong). However, the option to generate the junction edges of the skinning tool does not work for me. It only generates the first one and then does nothing any more, although the cursor still shows the hourglass symbol. Generating intermediate edges works fine, however. Can you confirm this problem? And if yes, when will this be fixed?

[Jeff Hammond]

I know this is still beta but I think the included features are supposed to work in the current version (sorry if I am wrong). However, the option to generate the junction edges of the skinning tool does not work for me. It only generates the first one and then does nothing any more, although the cursor still shows the hourglass symbol. Generating intermediate edges works fine, however. Can you confirm this problem? And if yes, when will this be fixed?

this feature Does work for me.. can you post the .skp you're having problems with?

[Pherim]

What I didn't mention is that I want to use it for a flat surface. With contours that would generate a bent surface it works for me, too. But I would like to use it to divide a flat surface in many small faces that match the contours. In the preview it looks just the way I want it but when trying to generate it doesn't work.

[Dave R]

As Jeff asked, post the SKP file where it doesn't work.

[jgb]

What I didn't mention is that I want to use it for a flat surface. With contours that would generate a bent surface it works for me, too. But I would like to use it to divide a flat surface in many small faces that match the contours. In the preview it looks just the way I want it but when trying to generate it doesn't work.

In my experience, CL does not handle perfectly flat surfaces very well. It will surface a "flat" plane if at least 1 vertex is at least .001 in out of planar, and may not show diagonal line(s), up to a point.

The latest version is much better, but the older versions resulted in an empty group when surfacing a very flat perimeter.

As far as dividing the surface into some sort of mesh, that would be a hit/or/miss depending on how "flat" the perimeter is.

[Pherim]

As Jeff asked, post the SKP file where it doesn't work.

I'm sorry I was in a hurry when I wrote my last reply and I was unable to look into the forums for the last few days. I have attached a sample file with explaining notes. However, this appears to happen with every flat surface, at least the ones I tried.

Skin_test.skp

[TIG]

I fail to see why you need to use this tool to do this...
If you select one or more edges in the coplanar set... and run one of the several 'add-faces' tools available... it faces almost instantly...

Capture.PNG

If you want to 'mesh' the 'flat' one face then my ExtrudeEdgesByRails will do it thus.

Capture1.PNG

No smoothing etc to show messy mesh because of uneven vertices distribution in the two original wavy curves...

[Pherim]

Yes I tried to do what your ExtrudeEdgesByRails appears to do. Will try it in a minute! I realize that the edges are not perfect for that purpose, but it's just an example file.

edit: It works. Thank you!

[Jeff Hammond]

As Jeff asked, post the SKP file where it doesn't work.

I'm sorry I was in a hurry when I wrote my last reply and I was unable to look into the forums for the last few days. I have attached a sample file with explaining notes. However, this appears to happen with every flat surface, at least the ones I tried.

Skin_test.skp

a workaround you can do at this time is:

select the edges / choose curviLoft 'skinning of shapes'
under Geometry in curviloft, click 'Generate the Junctions as SU Curves' (the last icon in geometry)

this will give you the lines you're seeking, albeit they are softened..
(for purposes of this example, explode the curviloft generated group at this time)

select everything then right-click -> Soften/Smooth edges
set the slider to zero which will unhide the lines..
switch to wireframe mode then select all the lines and copy/move them to a new location..
switch back to a shaded mode and only your curves/junction edges will in the copied set of geometry..

(and maybe the way i described it there sounds worse than doing it in reality.. .. it's pretty quick/painless )

[Pherim]

Thank you, that worked!

[brookefox]

Just a quick note of thanks to Fredo. Here's a pic of a modest result which well pleases me.

Merci, monsieur.

[brookefox]

The pic shows two arc profiles desired to be swept along an arc path in red. Though the two profiles are separate curves, 'loft along path' makes them one when picked. One should be a beginning transitioning to the other as an ending.

[fredo6]

The pic shows two arc profiles desired to be swept along an arc path in red. Though the two profiles are separate curves, 'loft along path' makes them one when picked. One should be a beginning transitioning to the other as an ending.

It depends on the edge selection you choose (follow or curve) and also you need to click in the empty space to force the separation of the 2 contours since they are contiguous

Fredo

[brookefox]

I guess there is no way as even if the two arcs are perpendicular to each other it treats them as one.

[brookefox]

It depends on the edge selection you choose (follow or curve) and also you need to click in the empty space to force the separation of the 2 contours since they are contiguous.

OK, I thought I had tried that. I will now for sure. Thank you. For me a work around is to make it in two moves with 'skinning'. Pic shows the desired and thusly achieved results.

[brookefox]

I got the profiles distinguished as you said, but have had no success with the sweep, no matter the settings. But it is a complex tool and I do not have a solid grasp of the variables, to say the least. Merci, Fredo.

[brookefox]

Cross post from elsewhere to here, where it may be of some use...model here with Fredo's Curviloft tools and TIG's Extrusion Tools.

[artcrazy1313]

Hi Guys
I am new in this scetchup world and I need some help.
I am trying to download .rb in my scetchup8. I do everything it was asked and put in scetchup plugin foldr but for some reason nothing comes out.. Please have someone help me out.
I am also tring to download this .rb for round corners , but cand find a link for download.

[TIG]

Hi Guys
I am new in this scetchup world and I need some help.
I am trying to download .rb in my scetchup8. I do everything it was asked and put in scetchup plugin foldr but for some reason nothing comes out.. Please have someone help me out.
I am also tring to download this .rb for round corners , but cand find a link for download.

The download link is almost always on the first post in any tools thread [it also has '[Plugin]' at the start of the thread's title]. The Plugins Idex red-button takes you to a page that in turn links off to all plugins available here, and a few elsewhere too...
Be sure to read the tool's download page - sometimes you need to get and install a help file or a library of helpers [like this tool] that are kept in their own subfolder.
Be sure to follow the tool's instructions for download, extraction and placement in the Plugins folder.
If the tool comes in a zip file ensure that the 'loose' files go into the Plugins folder and that any helper files zipped inside a subfolder are put into Plugins still INSIDE that subfolder - never move files around as the tool will break.
You are on a MAC so ensure you are using the right root-level 'HD' library Plugins folder and NOT a 'user' one...
There are several helpful threads about installing scripts/plugins - do a forum Search.
Thomthom has also made a 'Simple Installer' tool [>=v8M2 only] that will automatically install scripts and extract/install from archives of scripts - look for that in the Plugins Index...
Note that some tools [like this one] are Extensions that need activating [one-time-only] from the Window > Preferences dialog, then the tool's Toolbar probably needs activating from the View...menu item...
Note also how each tool is activated/used...
Many new tools do appear in the Plugins-menu... BUT many do not - for example the menu items for this very tool are found in Tools > Fredo Collection > CurviLoft submenu !!!

[baz]

Off topic.

Tig, you are so patient and helpful. I saw this post and my first thought was has he tried 'search', has he looked at the 'how to download plugins' tut, has he made any effort at all? Or is he a first poster who needs some direction about how to help him/her self
I guess what I'm trying to say is that you and others on this forum contribute so much, I worry that you get overloaded with things that don't really help to progress SU.
Your call though, I'm inclined to 'tough love' myself.