Ship Sail Design

[Adam P]

This is a question for the designers here. I am trying to create a backdrop / scrim in 3D form that looks like a sail of a tall ship.

I've figured out how to create a nurb curve for piping, but can't figure out how to create the fabric element of the sail.

I'm looking for this to be curved in plan, and curved in sideview....think of a picture of a tall ship on the high seas with the wind in it's sail.....

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Adam

[propstuff]

Adam,

Start with a rectangle (say)

Use

Model>Convert toNURBS

this will give you a NURBS curve.(an "edge" with no surface) Then use

Model>Create Surface from Curves.

Give it a solid fill.

This will give you a NURBS Surface with U & V degrees (think of these as handles) of "1". Look in the OIP for this.

1 Degree "corresponds" to each edge being divided into "1 increment". (this is the simplistic way of thinking about Degrees)

Use the 3D reshape tool to select the NURBS object if it is not selected (it should still be) and look at the rectangle; it will have Vertex "handles" at each corner.

Now change the U & V degrees to 2 (both of them) and look at the rectangle. It will now have Handles half way along each side. (each side is divided into 2). Note it will also have a handle in the middle where the mid-lines intersect.

Choose a 3D view

Using the 3D reshape tool you can pull each of these handles, or change them in the OIP in the same way you move 2D verticies.

Pay careful attention to the Mode bar to be sure you are pulling the vertex "handles" in the right plane. This is a trap. ;-)

If you pull the mid points of each side and the centre vertex away from the plane of the flat sail you will have your curves

HTH,

N.

[ 01-16-2005, 09:29 PM: Message edited by: propstuff ]

[Andrew Bell@NV]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Adam P:

This is a question for the designers here. I am trying to create a backdrop / scrim in 3D form that looks like a sail of a tall ship.

I've figured out how to create a nurb curve for piping, but can't figure out how to create the fabric element of the sail.

---

Create nurbs curves for the perimeter of the sail, and use "Create surface from curves" to create the sail surface.

If you start in top view, say,you can create three or four three point curves for the boundary. Then go to an isometric view, select one curve, and choose the 3-D reshape tool. Select the move in Z axis option from the mode bar, and drag the center point of each curve up a little bit. Then "Create surface from curves" and you'll get a billowy shape.

[Ziska]

Kevin,

Cool! That worked....

Ziska

[Ziska]

Nicholas

Any idea why the U & V degrees aren't giving me more "handles"?

Created rectangle both in plan and elevation- no joy...

Ziska

[Kevin]

Ziska;

The instructions by Nicholas are very well written. However, like you, I was not able to get the additional handles to show when I changed the values in the OIP.

Try clicking on your object with the 3D Reshape Tool, and not the Selection Tool. When I did this I was able to see the new handles just as Nicholas described.

I am no expert here. The credit goes to Nicholas. If it were not for him, I would have no clue as to how these tools work.