Ability to map graphic to a swept path is gone in VW 2020

[rjtiedeman]

I am having issues opening old package renders in VW 2020 that were done using a swept path as a sticker to a surface. Please see PDF. Now any old file that had this technique to create a label on a surface has to redone. Is this a glitch or a permanent change to Vectorworks? 

[Kevin McAllister]

38 minutes ago, rjtiedeman said:

I am having issues opening old package renders in VW 2020 that were done using a swept path as a sticker to a surface.

 

Does the swept path have a Fill attribute or is it set to none?

Can you post an example VW file?

 

Kevin

[rjtiedeman]

No the swept path does not show a fill in VW 2020 and will not accept a fill. However when I back save it to VW 2019 it has a fill and a graphic texture as it did when created.

Bob

[rjtiedeman]

Kevin here is the file if than helps the cap at the left has been moved 4" away from the label & path. Moving the file back to 2019 fixes the problem.

Can top 2019 to v2020 to v2019.vwx

[Andy Broomell]

I've actually noticed a similar thing in VW2020 - 3D objects created with a Line as the source object end up not having the ability to change their fill type. This is different than previous versions, and I would consider it a bug.

 

For example, draw a line and extrude it upwards. The extrude is stuck to having no fill. It makes sense for the line to not be able to have a fill, but the resulting extrude should be able to. Same goes for your sweep object.

 

As a workaround for now, you can use the little triangle flyout at the bottom of the attributes palette, and choose "Make All Attributes by Class" (since the None class has a solid fill type). This seems to make it work, even though the Attributes Palette still displays a little wonky.

 

[rjtiedeman]

 That little triangle flyout at the bottom of the attributes palette (Make All Attributes by Class)? That is only available in the design series. I use VW fundamentals.

Bob

[MullinRJ]

@rjtiedeman ,

   Applying a FILL to an EXTRUDED Line was reported as a bug recently and now shows to be fixed. I assume the fix will apply to SWEPT Lines, too. I think this is only a temporary setback. Fingers crossed. 

 

Raymond

[Tim C.]

@rjtiedeman yes this looks like the problem that Andy mentions above, where Line objects aren't supporting a fill in 2020 and that's spilling over to any solids (Extrudes, Sweeps, etc) that are made from the Line. This is already fixed in a newer service pack but for now you'll just want to replace that line with a thin polygon and the fill should then show. Sorry for the inconvenience.

 

Tim

[mjm]

16 hours ago, Andy Broomell said:

I've actually noticed a similar thing in VW2020 - 3D objects created with a Line as the source object end up not having the ability to change their fill type. This is different than previous versions, and I would consider it a bug.

 

For example, draw a line and extrude it upwards. The extrude is stuck to having no fill. It makes sense for the line to not be able to have a fill, but the resulting extrude should be able to. Same goes for your sweep object.

 

As a workaround for now, you can use the little triangle flyout at the bottom of the attributes palette, and choose "Make All Attributes by Class" (since the None class has a solid fill type). This seems to make it work, even though the Attributes Palette still displays a little wonky.

 

@Andy Broomell—thanks for that Andy, I have many files where my softgoods are drawn as extruded lines, (so simple so fast), and I 2020 they lost their fill and currently I have been rebuilding those symbols, what a pain

Edited October 1, 2019 by mjm
too many iiiis

[rjtiedeman]

You can convert the line-sweep to a NURBS surface, (sweep will now have a fill) but the shape has to be adjusted larger. Also what was a smooth sweep becomes a faceted surface which makes the texture look faceted. Not a great workaround.  It's best to just use VW2019 until things get sorted out.

[mjm]

2 hours ago, rjtiedeman said:

You can convert the line-sweep to a NURBS surface, (sweep will now have a fill) but the shape has to be adjusted larger. Also what was a smooth sweep becomes a faceted surface which makes the texture look faceted. Not a great workaround.  It's best to just use VW2019 until things get sorted out.

What happens when you build the relevant objects in 19 and import them into 20?

[rjtiedeman]

The original product was done in VW 2018 moved to to VW 2019 then when it was opened in VW 2020 it failed. I have tried rebuilding in VW 2020 from scratch but it fails. Not worth wasting any more time. If you have to get work done on time the best work around is not to use VW 2020. Adding a decal also works fine in 2020 but it is limited to 1 decal and 1 texture. Other 3D software like FormZ can have many decals and they can be moved & adjusted easily. It’s on my wish list. At one time I supported several 3D platforms but with updates and non-compatible file formats I stopped.

[Tim C.]

@rjtiedeman did you ever try just replacing the Line with a thin poly in 2020? That seems to be the easiest workaround.

 

-Go into the Sweep

-Activate the Offset tool with a really small offset distance and the "Close Open Curves" tool pref enabled

-Offset the Line and give it a solid fill

 

The texture should then show on the Sweep and it should have the same mapping as 2019.

[rjtiedeman]

13 hours ago, Tim C. said:

@rjtiedeman did you ever try just replacing the Line with a thin poly in 2020? That seems to be the easiest workaround.

 

-Go into the Sweep

-Activate the Offset tool with a really small offset distance and the "Close Open Curves" tool pref enabled

-Offset the Line and give it a solid fill

 

The texture should then show on the Sweep and it should have the same mapping as 2019.

Tim C.

Yes, Replacing the line with a very thin rectangle (.0001 x 1.5") works but the graphic repeats on the inside of the swept poly like the inside of a glass wall. This screws up the edges of the text/graphic. Also degrades the texture of the surface below.

NOTE: I also note that trying to edit my older textures causes major failures. I have used PSD images with alpha channels for the transparency. I need to experiment more to find a solution.

 

Edited October 4, 2019 by rjtiedeman
Added repeated graphic image

[mjm]

1 hour ago, rjtiedeman said:

Tim C.

Yes, Replacing the line with a very thin rectangle (.0001 x 1.5") works but the graphic repeats on the inside of the swept poly like the inside of a glass wall. This screws up the edges of the text/graphic. Also degrades the texture of the surface below.

NOTE: I also note that trying to edit my older textures causes major failures. I have used PSD images with alpha channels for the transparency. I need to experiment more to find a solution.

Really appreciating this thread…

 

[rjtiedeman]

Problem is NOT fixed in latest version on VW. Extruded or swept lines can not have a fill.

[MullinRJ]

To which release version are you referring? 

 

SP0 - it's broken.

SP1 - is usually a release for localization changes and not bug fixes.

SP2 - is not out yet. I expect it in this or SP3 at the latest. Just guessing here.

 

As recommended above, I'd use VW 2019 for your designs needing this feature until VW 2020 is updated and working. The file(s) can be moved forward after it's working. I feel your pain.

 

Raymond

[Rick Berge]

As a workaround, it looks like it will still take the fill (and/or texture) from the class. It's only the Attribute Palette getting in the way.  SP2 beta that I tried seems fixed with the Can Top example.

[rjtiedeman]

This issues is fixed in. latest 2020 sp2 update. Now old files with images mapped to extruded or swept lines work as expected. Many thanks to VW team.

Edited December 1, 2019 by rjtiedeman