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Character from font to a line?
About Truespace Archives
These pages are a copy of the official truespace forums prior to their removal somewhere around 2011.
They are retained here for archive purposes only.
Character from font to a line? // New Users
Post by LongWolf // Dec 27, 2008, 1:37pm
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LongWolf
Total Posts: 62
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I'm trying to make Blackjack table.
To get the table shape right, I've made a true type font character.
Basically it's a letter D without the hole and turned on it's side.
It works great for making the table top.
But the table needs a bumper/cushion to wrap around the curved edge.
Is there a way to take just the curved part of the font character to make a line that can be used with the 3D rail tool. |
Post by Norm // Dec 29, 2008, 7:35am
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Norm
Total Posts: 862
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Might be easier if you used a bevel on the face of the "D". Afterwards you could select the remaining face and lower it again. Fillet and chamfer may also be of some use.
Hope is helpful. |
Post by spacekdet // Dec 30, 2008, 10:21am
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spacekdet
Total Posts: 1360
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There's always more than one way to skin a cat.
Here's one. (http://www.spacekdet.com/tutorials/loft2/) |
Post by LongWolf // Dec 30, 2008, 4:00pm
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LongWolf
Total Posts: 62
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thx,
i finally managed to just draw a line that's close to the correct shape.
The tutorials seem to show adding two lines to the tripanel, one for shape and one for path, then extruding.
I can't figure out how to get them both in there.
Have I got the wrong idea? |
Post by LongWolf // Dec 30, 2008, 4:16pm
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LongWolf
Total Posts: 62
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hi spacekdet,
i made my last post without refreshing the page, so i hadn't seen your post.
I'm trying your tutorial, but clicking my rail path image doesn't combine the two.
My railpath is open instead of closed, could that be the problem? |
Post by LongWolf // Dec 30, 2008, 4:52pm
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LongWolf
Total Posts: 62
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spacekdet,
In the 4th image from your tutorial, there's a gray panel on the left side of the screen that shows the shapes/lines.
Is that what you're using to select the rail path?
If so, how do I get that panel to show up? |
Post by spacekdet // Dec 30, 2008, 5:05pm
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spacekdet
Total Posts: 1360
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Open or closed, it shouldn't matter.
Are you using Loft?
If so, select the profile curve first ( the cross-section of the bumper), then the Loft icon, and finally the curve that defines the path.
The result should be immediate.
With this method you draw and perfect both curves first, then combine them via Loft.
Rail tool is a little different in that you start with the profile curve and then interactively draw the rail/path in the TriPanel. With this method you can quickly rough out the shape but usually have to go back and tweak it afterwards. Once you right click on the object to re-enter edit mode, you use the arrow keys on the keyboard to select either curve for editing.
If you already have the curves done and saved in the Curve Library then Loft is the way to go.
Also be sure you are using the Curve and not the Path Library- the icons are similar but functions are different!
<EDIT> (Added image)
Yes, that gray panel is the Curve Library.
This will only be available in tS7 in the Model side.
In default config it will be on the left side of the screen:
17217 |
Post by LongWolf // Dec 30, 2008, 5:50pm
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LongWolf
Total Posts: 62
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I'm trying to use loft. Here are the steps I'm using,
I'm loading my cross section, setting it vertical.
Loading the path, (table edge line)
Lining up the two lines.
Clicking the cross section, then clicking the loft icon.
But i can't seem to select the rail path line, clicking on it does no good.
How are you selecting it?
I've saved the path and cross section lines as objects with the .cob extension.
How do you save them so they show up in the curves lib? |
Post by spacekdet // Dec 30, 2008, 7:55pm
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spacekdet
Total Posts: 1360
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With the Curve selected, open the Curve Library, right click and choose Item/Insert.
I've never saved a curve as a cob before but it seems to work just as well as saving it into the library- the test loft I just ran worked fine.
Odd that it won't let you pick the second curve. |
Post by LongWolf // Dec 30, 2008, 8:28pm
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LongWolf
Total Posts: 62
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Here are the obj files.
maybe something is wrong with them, thou I've tried it with other lines in the curves lib.
The Obj. Convert and Obj. Units are set to inches.
(I have another thread asking about scaling, this was my best guess on sizing)
tbl_Curve is the rail path, rail-circle is the cross section. |
Post by LongWolf // Dec 30, 2008, 9:35pm
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LongWolf
Total Posts: 62
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here it is as a scene with the lines aligned |
Post by LongWolf // Dec 31, 2008, 6:24am
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LongWolf
Total Posts: 62
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Here's a screen shot.
The vertical plane was selected, the Rail Surface icon clicked.
And this is what happens when I click the horizontal rail path image. |
Post by LongWolf // Dec 31, 2008, 6:33am
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LongWolf
Total Posts: 62
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I found the problem, I was going by the look of the icon.
The tutorial shows 7 icons to choose from.
I only get 4, but found the correct icon in those grouped at the bottom of the screen.
Thanks for all the help! |
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