Thursday, February 19, 2009

Creating Mesh-based Arches from Curves

This video tutorial will show you how to leverage the power of curves to create smooth polygon-based arches. We'll also take a look at how to control the polycount of the resulting mesh. After covering the basics, there are two short timelapse videos demonstrating a couple of variations on the techniques.

The resulting geometry can be used to help create archways, doorways, architectural support structures, etc.



Watch the tutorial online
(FLV streaming, Length - 11:31)
Or, Download the 62MB ZIP file to view it offline (load the HTML file in your browser).


technorati tags: , , ,

at

21 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2009 6:30 AM

    simply awesome.. thanks a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  2. PierreFebruary 20, 2009 11:06 AM

    Hello, thanks for this good Tuto.
    I a have a little question about the step 8:38 on this video. I don't understand the curve path with arch object, the link with the curve path! how to make it ?
    It's to speed for me at this time :-( of the video.
    Thanks in advance.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kernon DillonFebruary 20, 2009 12:24 PM

    Thanks!

    @Pierre
    The curve is controlling the bevel shape of the "arch" curve. To set it up, add a Bezier curve to your scene and type its name into the BevOb field for the "arch" curve.

    ReplyDelete
  4. PierreFebruary 20, 2009 1:47 PM

    Thanks for your answer Dillon.

    The problem is certainly because I have no object curve.001. In my scene this arch objet, is a simple arch, not a bezier curve , so it is not possible to link it with the bezier curve control.
    When I try to do what you are suggesting I have this message error : Bevel/Taper Object must be a curve.
    I keep on searching.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kernon DillonFebruary 20, 2009 2:05 PM

    Both objects must be curves while designing the arch. The names of the curves don't matter, just be sure to plug in the correct name of the bevel control curve into the BevOb field of the curve used for the arch. Convert the curve, used for the arch, to a mesh after all editing is complete.

    ReplyDelete
  6. PierreFebruary 20, 2009 4:50 PM

    It is not a good idea to use a duplicate arch of your tuto for the last trick ;-( .

    I build a new arch and everything is working.

    Thanks again Dillon, have a good week-end.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2009 5:47 PM

    very nice! this technique is also useful for base-board trim inside houses

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownFebruary 23, 2009 1:49 PM

    Very handy tecnique, exelent tutorial.
    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  9. drummeralecFebruary 26, 2009 2:10 AM

    This is a great blog, and great tutorial. It shows the great way to use curves. Also, i really like the way you can see the keys he is clicking during the video, helps a lot. Highly Recommended.

    Also, check out my blog, it has some cool blender stuff on it also. - http://alecsgraphics.blogspot.com/
    :)
    -Alec

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousFebruary 26, 2009 12:32 PM

    Thanks!

    Great Tutorial as usual.

    btw, what is the theme you are using there? I think I'd like to give it a try.

    Thanks again.

    zyzzy.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Kernon DillonFebruary 26, 2009 5:44 PM

    Hey, Zyzzy. Here's a zip file of the theme. Right-click and save it.

    http://www.blendernewbies.com/themes/Dark_theme_(modified).zip

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousFebruary 27, 2009 8:17 AM

    Dillon-

    When do we get thee 'SNOW' tutorials.. I am dying to learn all of those cool things about snow. BTW love your style in teaching. Keep it up bro!

    -Mike

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousFebruary 27, 2009 10:53 AM

    Thank you, Kernon.

    I've downloaded your "Pimp blender" tut but haven't given it try yet, I'm looking forward to it.

    Until I make my own "earth-shattering" theme, I'll be using ones like this one.

    Thanks again,

    zyzzy

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousMarch 20, 2009 10:26 AM

    Thanks for the tutorial on creating arches. The section on making the arch part of a wall and cutting the shape into the plane went by so fast that I have had trouble seeing all the steps to complete the cutout. Could you explain this further?

    BJ

    ReplyDelete
  15. Kernon DillonMarch 20, 2009 10:37 AM

    To create the opening, I added some loops (Ctrl-R) to frame the opening. I adjusted the vertices surrounding the area that I wanted to cut out so that they resided within the area that would be covered by the arch object. I then deleted the vertices that were located within the area that I wanted to cut out.

    Hope that helps. If not, you can post a question in the BlenderNewbies Forums where there's more room to help (images, etc.).

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousMarch 20, 2009 10:42 AM

    Thanks. I'll try the technique out.

    BJ

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousJuly 08, 2009 1:41 PM

    Thanks for this great tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2010 12:54 PM

    Damn... it's like a lightbulb came on in my head. That's simply fantastic (and fantastically simple)!

    ReplyDelete
  19. KevinJune 21, 2011 3:59 PM

    Thanks for the tut.

    How do you create the controlling loops at 7:50 ??

    ReplyDelete
  20. Kernon DillonJune 21, 2011 6:00 PM

    You can use Ctrl-R while the mousepointer is positioned over an edge.

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousAugust 20, 2011 7:30 PM

    Kernon This tutorial is amazing keep up the good work, althou I like the outlay of your settings I dont know how you got your themes and buttons the way you had so I am at a loss, I use Blender 2.58a, If you can make the theme and buttons and put them in a .bld/blender file that would be great as I really need some good arches, G8 Tutorial. On a different thought why not make a Curve Path tutorial alot of people wonder about this Script but not alot on the wiki gives much details or uses on this and to actualy find a good tutorail that has all the uses of a Curved Path. Just a thought G8 work keep it up

    ReplyDelete

Comments are always appreciated, thanks!