Spline Loft Sculpture

Once the first plane is in place I use the Cover command in the Tools/Polygon menu.

This will make a new edge for the next panel, and so on.

panelcover.gif
 
The next steps include using a Shell Modifier to give thickness and using a copy of the
Quadrat object and a Boolean operation to cut it's contour from the Bridge.

Here's the results:

bridgeboolean.gif
 
My object has a bottom, but it shouldn't, so those polygons should be deleted.

Then I can prepare for the Boolean subtraction operation.

WARNING: Boolean operations can be a very frustrating form of voodoo
and should be used sparingly with due caution until better understood.

Co-planar surfaces and flush edges between the objects involved need to be avoided.

booleansetup.gif
 
There are a number of Boolean tools including a Modifier and a Creator.

A Creator is always at the top of the hierarchy with the
object/objects under them in the Object Browser.

A Modifier is always a child of an object.

This was done with the Boolean Creator but you can
use either one or even the Boolean Commands.

booleanit.gif
 
There are a number of vertical and horizontal elements
Gerald made with a lot of individual planes.

I selected all the planes for the vertical elements and then
used the Merge command to make them all one object.

I did the same for the horizontal elements, and then I used the
Split command in the Tool/Polygon menu to separate them.

Sculpt Partial.jpg
 
Here's how to merge a bunch of separate polygon objects into one.

After the objects are merged, they are now one object but not connected.

To connect them, the points must be welded together,
this is what the Optimize Tool is used for.

horizmerge.gif
 
After applying the the Burn Transform command, returning the object to 1x1x1 scale,
I used the Optimize command to weld all points together.

subdivtest.gif
 
Here's a little preview render of these elements using a single high dynamic range image based light source.

Render tease.jpg
 
Just a little side note not worthy of an animation.
Polygons have a front and back, the back is black in the preview window.
If you have polygons facing the wrong way and showing black,
just use the Flip Normals command in the Tool/Polygon menu.
 
Each group of elements is combined into one mesh, but they can be separated easily.

Select one polygon and use the Select Group command,
which will select all polygons connected to the one you selected.

Then use Tools/Polygon/Split to create a new object.
 
I think I made a mistake while I was working out how to bend this, and found a missing edge.
I'll have to correct that and send you a new file.
 
Here's a test with the corrected version bent in a circle.
I kept the flat panels rather than making smooth curves.

Bend test.jpg
 
Here's a test with the corrected version bent in a circle.
I kept the flat panels rather than making smooth curves.

View attachment 38505
Yes, flat panels, but i was thinking if make a loop with the elements turning to the outside. So I have to mount it on a wall or hanging it from the ceiling. I was hoping the elements morph quite differently to the straight one. Very exciting…
 
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