Flowify is a Sketchup equivalent to Rhino's command FlowAlongSrf. The extension bends geometry along quad surfaces.
Inputs to the extension are groups or components of source geometry and a group called the support group which has the following layout:
Support group | | - Group with projection plane | - Group with target surface | - Group with connection edges
The projection plane is either an empty rectangular face or a flat custom made quad grid with the same topology as the target surface.
The target surface is a rectangular quad grid - rectangular means that the grid needs to have four distinct corners.
Connection edges (or construction lines in case the lines intersect each other) connect two adjacent corners on the projection plane with two adjacent corners on the target surface.
Flowify maps raw faces within groups or components of source geometry, thus, groups further down the hierarchy will be ignored. Front and Back materials are transferred to the target geometry.
Compatibility: Tested on Sketchup 2015 only.
Introduction:
Tutorials
Versions v1.1.0 Formats edges in the target geometry according to: A) Edges in the source geometry have their formatting transferred to the target B) Edges introduced in intersect becomes unsoftened in the target C) Triangulation diagonals in the target are formatted according to the conventional quad definition
Thus, "Flowify without cut" will preserve quad formatting.
The demonstrations and examples are impressive and inspiring. This offers completely new possibilities to deform objects specifically and flowing. "Fredo6_FredoScale Radial Bending" on the next level. Will test it under SU8.
CAUL, this is awesome thing! Thank you for sharing. I tried some primitive case of 'panelization'. Everything went smooth except point A got split into A1 and A2. Is it possible to tweak the algorithm so it'd keep the same number of vertices? Edit: I found 'flowify without cut' mode that solves this issue BTW What exactly 'Aux' tools do?
rv1974 wrote:Edit: I found 'flowify without cut' mode that solves this issue
I was just going to suggest this
rv1974 wrote:BTW What exactly 'Aux' tools do?
The first Aux tool "Edge -> CLine" converts an edge to a construction line. If two connection edges intersect each other (if you pair your corners crosswise), then they split into four edges and that is not handled by the extension. The extension let you convert an edge to a construction line to handle this.
The purpose of the second Aux tool cannot really be explained in less than 2500 words. There will eventually be a tutorial with this tool playing a small part.
I tried to mimic your example and I am have a few problems.
1) The IMPOSE GRID function does not modify my "Projection Surface". - I am not getting any errors in the Ruby Console when initiating the IMPOSE GRID feature.
2) I am receiving an error dialog message concerning the " Target grid".
INPUT ERROR: Error while parsing the Target grid The grid must conform to: - A cell consists of exactly four edges. Beware of collinear edge segments - Connection edges must attatch to two adjecent corners - The grid must have four corners - Every row in the grid must have the same number of cells - No holes
- I checked the Target Grid and it all seems to comply with the rules. - I am not getting any errors in the Ruby Console
Attached is the skp.
Can anyone figure out why it's not working? Although I believe I am following the instructions step by step... user error?
rv1974 wrote:Edit: I found 'flowify without cut' mode that solves this issue
I was just going to suggest this
Great and useful plugin sir! thank you so much! i played a bit with it and it's really enjoiable, but i have a request if possible/not toohard to accomplish.. it looks like the "flow without" cut doesn't add triangles but unsfoften every edges.. can we have an option to preserve edge properties so that this tool could be more esily integrated in an organic/quadfacetools-friendly workflow?
panixia wrote:it looks like the "flow without" cut doesn't add triangles but unsfoften every edges.. can we have an option to preserve edge properties so that this tool could be more esily integrated in an organic/quadfacetools-friendly workflow?
it looks like the "flow without" cut doesn't add triangles but unsfoften every edges.. can we have an option to preserve edge properties so that this tool could be more esily integrated in an organic/quadfacetools-friendly workflow?
Good suggestion! This feature is now introduced in v1.1.0.
on my pc the impose grid has no effect on the plane.
hence flowify shows errors (but at least it fires), got the 3 groups in place etc. tried with a default plugins set up (flowify the only extension). no success.
attach the sample, in case someone can see any blindspots...
the tutorials were some of the best i've seen.
EDIT: i think i made a mistake. i thought i could place the lines a bit inside the group, not always on the extremities. sorry the false alarm!
This is the most amazing thing I've seen in a while. Brilliant! I've been following a little... but, just took the time to really look at this. I can't believe what this does for workflow! I'm sharing this with friends... people have GOT to know about this.
Unless... of course... I'm the last one of my friends to start paying attention... either way. I'm really excited to use this. Thank you for sharing with us.
Hello Caul! I like it. I watched videos again many times, but I could not use it. Please, share SketchUp files of examples with us. So everyone will know better. Thank you.
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i think i made a mistake. i thought i could place the lines a bit inside the group, not always on the extremities. sorry the false alarm! 
