So to generalize, how would it be possible to copy a clothing button, and place it tangent to a surface, such as a sphere, or catenary of revolution, with the "center" at an on-surface point of the surface?

Using the ArrayGem script with a tiny line segment, instead of a point object does such a copy.

Is it possible to modify the ArrayGem factory, to use a PointObject, instead of a Curve?
Changing objectpicker.allowCurves() to objectpicker.allowPointObjects() in the script, does not work, so the change would have to be in the ArrayGem factory, (I think).

Hi Brian, it should probably not be difficult to modify the ArrayGem factory to work like that, I'll take a look at that tomorrow.

- Michael

Hi Michael, I've just been messing around, practicing MoI. Ideas may or may not be useful or practical.
Seems like the orient command does the trick well.

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Ok I have successful with use only the Orient and helper lines ! ;)

Same trick than my previous try for inspiration :)

Circle given is drawn somewhere on the ground: click on it for have the radius
Call the Orient
In view Front draw a vertical helper line from the top of the sphere
Move it of the radius given of circle
Redraw one vertical line at the Top of the sphere
Draw an horizontal helper line from the intersection of the previous vertical helper line of the radius and the generator curve of the sphere

Et voilà ! :)
I can draw the Orient Circle at the good deepth!
After that just now take the top of the sphere as Base Origin!
And copy it anywhere!

Michael, did you look at the possibility of using the ArrayGem factory with Point Objects, rather than
lines or curves? (While preserving the On Surface normal orientation?)

Thank you,

Brian

Hi Brian, yup using points with ArrayGem is set up for the next v3 beta - you won't have to do anything custom you will just be able to select point objects in addition to curves for the target objects in the regular command.

- Michael

Should be very useful! :-)