One set is closed, one is open, I need to be able to split these selections, image only one set is selected, into two groups of vertices, one represents one loop, one the other. So, does anyone know how to do this, what could I look for as a logic flow?
The idea is that I use the two selected loops to define the two arcs, with their centres and radii calculated by existing PDT Tangents code, then draw the tangents as we do now, only difference is that I donât have to do the arc analysis as a separate stage - over to the expertsâŚ
I know I canât use vertex indices as they may follow on from each other exactly without an index break, so curve one could be indices 0-15 and curve two could be 16-31. I canât isolate vertices the make only one edge, because that would be precluded by two closed loops.
Update: I now have the system working for equal sized arcs, where there is no intersection point (well there is one at infinity), this required a little more code:
I have changed the menu so you can now select which type(s) of tangents you want to make:
This makes the operation easier to understand and does not make too many unnecessary edges. It will still make both inner, or both outer tangents however, you can just delete the one you donât want. Getting Blender to know which of these two might be required is beyond reasonable coding as Blender does not store arcs as arcs, merely strings of edges with no way of knowing where an arc ends and a connected straight line begins.
PDT currently only supports operations, like Move Objects/ Vertices for Mesh type objects, so Empties are not supported just now. We can look at moving Empties as well, but this will require new code. I am away from my Mac this week on holiday so I will look at this as an enhancement when I get home.
Thank you for you comment, I will investigate this later. I have also been asked to look at moving curves, both Bezier & Nurb and vertices in curve objects, so will investigate both options together.
OK, so while Mrs. C. is out walking (I am lounging around on the ship with a drink, or two) I thought about this and I think one change will rectify this for empties:
Line 159 in pdt_command.py is currently this (it checks object type):
if obj.mode not in {"OBJECT", "EDIT"} or obj.type != "MESH":
if it is changed to this:
if obj.mode not in {"OBJECT", "EDIT"} or obj.type not in {"MESH", "EMPTY"}:
The system will then allow you to move Empties - what I am not sure of is whether this might make other things fail, since I cannot test it. This will also let you parent many objects to an empty, then move it and the child objects will follow.
I will test this when I get home.
Cheers, Clock.
EDIT:
You could try this yourself, it is only one minor change, but backup PDT first! (I hope you appreciate the effort it takes to type this sort of stuff on a phoneâŚ)
This release includes the new tangent functionality and the âallow emptiesâ tweak outlined above, both courtesy of @clockmenderâs excellent work.
Thank you @ermo, I will always be in awe of how you weave your magic to produce these releases from the messes I leave on GitHub!
On another note, I was looking at some of the geometric procedures I developed in Animation Nodes some while ago. This included Graph Plotters and Trigonometrical Generators. Details are found on my website here and here.
So, the question is; Does anyone feel that these functions might be a good addition to PDT, I am thinking particularly of the Trig Generators that produce Sine, Cosine & Tangent graphs?
Here is an example of a mesh produced from said functions:
Some of the functions rely on time, so are only applicable in producing animations, like the âBounceâ function, anyway let me know if I should look at porting any of this stuff to PDT.
About your 1pt and 3pt basepoint snapping proposal - they were realized in NP_Station by Okavango some time ago, do you mean that NP_Station should be built in PDT, or PDT should borrow some NP functionality?
Here is a short demo with 1pt, 2pt and 3pt basepoint alignment from NP
Also hopes that snaps development will progress as well.
Yes, we have just started making them, by âweâ I mean @MarkerTales⌠We intend to make this more widely known once he is happy that he is well under way with the planned series.
Well, we are actually fighting for obtaining such possibilities by default, and afraid that devs will say something like âhey, you already have an addon for thisâ.
So this is certainly good news, but you need to be more careful with it)
Noted! We certainly donât want to tread on any toes here, maybe you can PM me with your plans in this regard. If you donât want us to incorporate the Align tools from NP_Station, just say and we will respect your efforts to get them in Blender.
