Create Surface From This Spline Shape?

Playdo

(3ds Max) How can I create a poly surface from this spline shape? I'd have thought it would be done using a 2-rail sweep, but it's only available with NURBS.

I've been trying to get it with Loft but to no avail. Is it doable with Loft or should I be tackling it differently?

Sean VanGorder

You may have to be a little more specific as to what shape you are trying to get. Are you trying to have a shape follow that spline? If so, you can turn on "Render In Viewport" under the spline options in the command panel. That will give you either a cylindrical or rectangular mesh in the shape of the spline. If you want a custom shape following the spline, then apply a Sweep modifier to it and select the shape you want.

If you want to turn that spline into a sort of poly sheet, with the spline defining the borders of the sheet, then just apply either an Extrude or Surface modifier to the spline.

aajohnny

Yeah as Sean said above not sure what you want. I am assuming a solid surface. If so I'd apply a Extrude modifier.

Playdo

A flat poly sheet surface (quads) with the spline being the border.

Extrude would produce a many sided NGon, not too difficult to clean up in this example though.

Surface modifier. I couldn't get this to work before, untill I realised that the spline had to be broken down into 3 or 4 sided shapes. For some reason, the resulting surface is quite bumpy though. Not sure why.

Sean VanGorder

Yeah, with any method there will be some clean up involved when converting splines to a mesh like this. This appears to be a simple enough shape though that you may be able to poly model it just as fast.

Playdo

Yeah, I'm trying to pick up a technique in general. Any idea why the mesh is turning out like below? (surface modifier used)

The edge flow is not even. I tried adding another segment to the spline and it's even worse. The fault's happening where the segment is. AFAIK you can't weld the vertices at a T-junction so they are just snapped to together.

stop619

Look into the Patch Modifier. You may have to make a few more spline connections down the length.

Mark Dygert

I think you're looking for the cross section tool in the spline menu? Then you probably want to use the surface modifier.

Playdo

It makes a surface but the geometry isn't even and clean. I think it's got something to do with the bezier handles.



I was looking for a way to create a spline outline and get a mesh result like this:



Anyway, I'll keep playing around with it.

rebb

What happens if you change the handles like this :

Xenobond

You'll need to adjust the length of the handles on the curved portion for the poly distribution to be even.

Playdo

Got it. Thanks.

A few more questions:

- Is there a way to completely remove one of the bezier handles, like you can in Photoshop?

- Bezier: Is there a way to make one haldle a different length to the other handle?

- Bezier Corner: Is there a way to constrain one handle to move in the opposite direction of the other handle?

- Is there a setting to remove the move constraints completely (selecting the move gizmo axis)?

W1r3d

@Mark Dygert - Thnx Mark for writing that. Worked like a charm for me.

Mark Dygert

Woa necopost from 6 years ago...

Also know that you can apply an edit poly modifier and a shell modifier to turn splines into geometry.