13th August 2008, 03:23 PM | #1 |
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grow part of an object or extrude in multiple directions
Hello ..
Isn't it possible to select multiple surfaces and then extrude them in the directions of the normals ? so I can grow an object ? I thought this is a common feature for a 3d program can't find it in ac3d :-( for example : I've made a bottle of champoo and I want to create labels for the front and the back ... It could be easy to select the surfaces where the label must come ... extrude them slightly and make a new object .. also to create a liquid in the bottle ... then I could select part of the bottle .. extrude it inside ... how do you do these things with ac3d ? thanks Twain Last edited by twain; 13th August 2008 at 04:55 PM. |
13th August 2008, 03:42 PM | #2 |
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Re: grow part of an object or extrude in multiple directions
If you switch to extrude mode, an "extrude by normal" button should appear on the left-hand side in the panel. (If you have a small screen, you may need to scroll down.) I think that's what you're looking for.
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13th August 2008, 04:55 PM | #3 |
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Re: grow part of an object or extrude in multiple directions
Hello lisa,
thanks for the fast response ! wow :-) I tried the "extrude by normal" button before I also thought this is the way ... but the whole selection of surfaces extrudes in one direction :-( for example take part of a sphere ... every surface should extrude in the direction of its normal that is what i'm looking for ... they actually should move like the explode function ... but grow the pieces and keep them together ... help ... Twain Last edited by twain; 13th August 2008 at 04:59 PM. |
13th August 2008, 07:41 PM | #4 |
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Re: grow part of an object or extrude in multiple directions
I just tried it, and indeed, you're right. (Although it works if you extrude the surfaces one at a time, but that's not too helpful if you have a lot of surfaces.)
Andy or someone else might know a better way, but in pinch you might be able to use the displacement mapper plugin as a work-around: http://www.independentdeveloper.com/...acement-mapper Duplicate your object, apply an all-white displacement map to the duplicate, then merge back together with the original if desired. |
15th August 2008, 08:55 AM | #5 |
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Re: grow part of an object or extrude in multiple directions
Another way to grow an object is to select the object, click on "dup" (for duplicate) and then scale the duplicate like 90%,90%,90% (x,y,z). With a check in "select through", you can use the cursor to select both the inside and outside object and then group them. Then assign the group a color or texture and make it partially transparent. This will allow objects inside the object to be seen through the partially transparent object.
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15th August 2008, 12:33 PM | #6 |
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Re: grow part of an object or extrude in multiple directions
As Terry says.
In poly mode, click on the polys (holding your right shift key down) where you want the shampoo bottle label to go, duplicate this group of polys (edit duplicate), and pull or move this group of polys away from the shampoo bottle by some very small amount (like .002) and then apply your label texture to this group of polys (which is now a different object than the bottle). |
16th August 2008, 10:19 AM | #7 |
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Re: grow part of an object or extrude in multiple directions
thanks for the fast reply's !
Scaling works different than expanding or growing that's my problem ... Scaling will work with a cube or sphere ... But if you work with some other irregular objects it will not work ... For example an "S" shape ... parts of the scaled object will come out of the other object you won't have an equal thickness between the two objects If you expand (grow) an object the thickness is equal ... the way Toronto explains works for smaller and flat lables ... the thickness is also not equal but because you move with a very small amount you can't see it ... but if the label is practically around the bottle ... or on an irregular shaped bottle it won't work also ... I added an exaple as attachment ... Its just a simple shape to illustrate an irregular shape twain Last edited by twain; 16th August 2008 at 10:25 AM. |
16th August 2008, 02:44 PM | #8 |
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Re: grow part of an object or extrude in multiple directions
A properly working "extrude region by normals" is really something that we need.
For now, when I really have to perform such a thing, I usually export an OBJ file, and import it in Wings3d which handles that perfectly.
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16th August 2008, 04:13 PM | #9 |
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Re: grow part of an object or extrude in multiple directions
I just tried your test shape with the displacement mapper method, and that method seems to work. The displacement map I used (all white) is in the zip.
I agree though, extrude by normal should be per-face, not the average of all normals as it appears to be. |
17th August 2008, 04:57 PM | #10 |
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Re: grow part of an object or extrude in multiple directions
Yes !
Tha's exactly what I need ... Only one problem :-7 The plugin runs only on windows and I work with a mac on osx :-7 extrude by normal should be indeed per-face, not the average of all normals or extrude region by normals ... this is essential for a 3d program Twain |
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bottle, extrude, grow, label |
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