Deform Tool on Complex 3D Symbols

[Steve Clarkson]

I've looked around here for info about the capabilities of the deform tool (also watched a video), and I'm already guessing I'm just out of luck here, but I wanted to ask anyway.

 

I'm trying to bend a very complex 3D symbol and as soon as I select the symbol (after selecting the Deform Tool) the program basically freezes.  It won't even highlight the object. 

 

So I'm wondering what options I might have. 

Can I make the symbol much more simple? And if so, in what way do I need to simplify it to help this process?

Or is this a processing power issue?

I have 2 very powerful CPUs already, and I think I'm correct in thinking this process uses CPU and not GPU.

 

Ideas?

 

Thx.

 

[markdd]

The first thing you should do is to convert the symbol to a group and then work from within the group. Alternatively, duplicate the symbol and then edit within the duplicated symbol. I know you are meant to be able to deform symbols but I have not had that much luck beyond relatively straightforward geometry.

 

What are you trying to do. If you could post a screen shot etc then it would be helpful....

[Steve Clarkson]

I've tried to upload various file types (png & jpeg), not working for some reason, error-200

 

It's a parade float design on a 48' flatbed trailer, with a very large (28'+) Gibson Les Paul neck coming out of the deck at a 45deg angle, and I'd like to bend it down towards the deck.  The guitar is an imported .skp

 

... changing it to a group.

Edited July 27, 2018 by Steve Clarkson

[Kevin McAllister]

9 minutes ago, Steve Clarkson said:

The guitar is an imported .skp

 

^ Its unlikely you'll have much luck deforming a mesh with the Deform Tool, which is what a Sketchup import would be.

 

I think the bottleneck with the Deform tool is the selection highlighting, which I believe is single core CPU driven.

 

I've successfully bent some complex stuff but I usually use a solid addition as a starting point. The selection highlighting (and snapping) can be an issue.

 

Kevin

 

[Steve Clarkson]

@Kevin McAllister - Ah, good to know.
Thx!

 

Steve

[markdd]

Sounds like the imported mesh might be the problem then. I’m not sure what to advise. Perhaps manipulate it in Sketchup and then import the finished object. 

 

The last time I looked a Gibson Les Paul wasn’t that tricky. Could you not make it from scratch?

 

Edited July 27, 2018 by markdd

[Steve Clarkson]

@markdd - yes, that could work too, maybe next week(!), it's Friday and I'm feeling lazy. 😉

Thx.

Steve.