Hi Michael.

Thanks for the recent update.

I have a question about the SubD From File import option.
I was wondering if your implementation was similar to Catmul-Clark and if so, is there an edge weighting option that we can use to tighten up the mesh?

I have a model in modo that is all quads and all verts are merged. No open boundaries.

When I convert to Catmul-Clark subD with not edge weighting I get this result.



Were I want tight lines and or corners, I simply apply edge weighting.





When I import this model into the latest v4 beta I get this result.



This looks very similar to the conversion to Catmul-Clark in modo without the edge weighting.

My question is, is there a way to apply such edge weighting in Moi upon or after import of such a file?


Thanks

-s

Hi Scooter, yes the sub-d conversion is almost the same as Catmull-Clark, the only differences are at extraordinary vertices.

There isn't currently any way to set the edge weighting in MoI but that is something I want to work on in the future. Additionally the .obj file format does not itself have any method of representing edge weighting so any transfer through .obj format will not preserve edge weighting anyway.

FBX format does have a way to store edge weighting and that's a format that I want to add in the future.

- Michael

Michael,

>Additionally the .obj file format does not itself have any method of representing edge weighting so any transfer through .obj format will not preserve edge weighting anyway.

I thought the edge weighting could be something like Max's SubDiv Beta 9 script, where one uses a slider.
I'd rather see this for imported OBJ files, as opposed to relying on the ever changing proprietary FBX format.

Thanks for the consideration.

-s

Hi Scooter,

> I thought the edge weighting could be something like Max's SubDiv Beta 9 script, where one uses a slider.
> I'd rather see this for imported OBJ files, as opposed to relying on the ever changing proprietary FBX format.

Just a slider after the import does not seem very feasible to me since there isn't any control over what edges are being targeted.

In the future I would like to have it so importing an obj file would result in creating a special sub-d type object in MoI where you could turn on control cage points and move them around, adjust edge weights, etc... For now when there is not the infrastructure in place for making those types of objects it just makes a regular NURBS object.

- Michael

"... In the future I would like to have it so importing an obj file would result in creating a special sub-d type object in MoI where you could turn on control cage points and move them around, adjust edge weights, etc..."

That, I would like to see. It would take MoI to a whole new level.

Ed Ferguson

That sounds feasible to me Michael and would be much appreciated.

Until then, I'm attempting to have the current importer give me the results I'm looking for.

What I've done is to unweld all of the points of my object, in order to take advantage of the "SubD import options" "Open Boundaries" "Keep Corners"

When I import this file into Moi, it sees that all faces are open boundaries and thus retains the sharp corners.
Then, moi appears to weld the patches back together and a create a Solid for me.

Not certain if this has resulted in a true NURBS object though.

Can you test the attached file and let me know what was created?

Thanks

-s

Hi Scooter,

re:
> Not certain if this has resulted in a true NURBS object though.
>
> Can you test the attached file and let me know what was created?

Yeah it's a NURBS object, although a kind of oddly structured one with a lot of little surface fragments instead of large smooth surfaces.

- Michael

Michael,

I build all of our models in a DCC app and occasionally am asked to create an equivalent CAD model.

In the ongoing attempt to convert a quad poly mesh into a CAD model, I thought I was onto something.

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the whole point of the SubD importer.

Just what should I expect as the result of the import?
Is it just a background mesh to build off of?

Would like to avoid having to completely rebuild it.

-s

Hi Scooter, the primary job of the sub-d importer is to enable a hybrid workflow where you can incorporate some sub-d elements as parts of a semi-organic model.

Say for example you want to do a space helmet and you want to start with a smooth base head shape that you'll then boolean some details onto. The head shape can be easier to do as a sub-d surface, and with the new importer you are able to use a sub-d modeling program to make the head surface and then import it into MoI and continue to build more elements off of it.

So basically it allows for using a combination of both sub-d and NURBS modeling techniques in a single project.


> Just what should I expect as the result of the import?

You should see a NURBS object in MoI that looks the same as the sub-d limit surface in your sub-d modeling program. But it does not currently support edge weights.


> Is it just a background mesh to build off of?

You mean like a template guide that you're going to throw away? That's not really the main idea, it's more about using the sub-d surfaces directly as part of your model.

- Michael

Thanks for your patients and explanation Michael.

Keep up the great work!

Looking forwards to the final V4 release!

-s

Sorry if it has been said before, but....I think that the option "From object" in Dim must be checked -not pushing the button each time- in order to keep this option active while the dim task is doing.

BTW, again a amazing version!

Hi Michael,

Have you changed the size input field so the prompt as at the end of the field rather than at the beginning - I have always used those fields with tab key and type over current settings but now need to backspace to clear field before new entry?

thanks Alex

Hi David,

re:
> Sorry if it has been said before, but....I think that the option "From object" in Dim must be
> checked -not pushing the button each time- in order to keep this option active while the
> dim task is doing.

Unfortunately a checkbox option is not quite feasible here. If you start out with nothing selected, then setting the checkbox would need to ask you to select an object. That selection is an additional stage of the command and the global UI convention in MoI is that setting a checkbox state should not cause a new stage of a command to be entered, that's always done by a push button, not a check button.

It is possible though to set up a keyboard shortcut that will automatically trigger the "From object" button so you don't have to click it separately.

To do that set up a shortcut key with one of the following:

DimHorizontal FromObject

DimVertical FromObject

DimAligned FromObject

Those keyboard shortcuts will be the same as running the command and clicking the FromObject button.

- Michael

Hi Alex,

re:
> Have you changed the size input field so the prompt as at the end of the field rather
> than at the beginning - I have always used those fields with tab key and type over
> current settings but now need to backspace to clear field before new entry?

It wasn't intentionally changed to do that. I can't seem to make it happen over here, does it only happen when the new object properties dialog is open?

- Michael

Hi Michael,

In MOIv3 if you go and change an objects dimensions the starting position for the prompt was at the beginning of the field but now for some reason in V4 when I go to make a change it defaults to the end of the input field so I have to backspace to clear that field.

Thanks
Alex.

Hi Alex, how exactly are you activating the input field, is it by pressing the Tab key? Clicking on it? Or just typing keystrokes immediately after opening the edit size menu?

Thanks, - Michael

Any suggestions for a screen capture format or program that I can use to display problem?

Hi Alex, I use Camtasia from TechSmith for screen captures. There are some free ones out as well though.

It may be enough if you can just give me a little more step-by-step description though.

What is supposed to happen is after you open the menu if you just start typing your keystrokes should go into the first field, replacing what was in there. If you push the Tab key focus is supposed to go into the first field and all the text in it is supposed to be selected so when you start typing it will replace it.

- Michael

Hi Michael,

Here is capture when I go to change the size fields by default it goes to end of the entry rather than the beginning if I tab select it does go the beginning.

I have removed MOIv3 from my computer and starting using v4 full time when I used click on the field in V3 it would go to the beginning of the field.

any suggestions welcome - thanks Alex.

Hi Alex, so that's working as it's supposed to - when you click on the field it goes to whatever location you clicked on. If you click in the middle of a number it goes in the middle, if you click past the end it goes to the end, like this:



That's just the standard behavior of most edit fields on the computer in general. For example here in my web browser I click past the end of the text in the google search field, it's the same behavior:



Here is how it works in V3 over here at least, it's the same:



There are a couple of different things you can do though, if you double click anywhere on the field it should select everything in the field so that when you start typing the existing text will be replaced.

If you want to input a new value into the first field it isn't necessary to click on it at all, just start typing without doing any clicks and your keystrokes should go to the first field replacing any existing content.

You can also use the Tab key to put focus into the first field which should select all the text so that your next keystrokes replace everything.

If you want to go to the second field you can push Tab twice, the first time it will go to the first field and then the second Tab will move to the second field, again all the text should be selected so whatever you type next should replace it.

Is it possible that you had modified your V3 so it behaved differently from the standard installation? If you like you can edit the file EditSizeMenu.htm inside the ui subfolder in the install folder, and replace all 8 instances of TextInput with NumericInput. That will then make those fields pop out the little menu with number buttons on it like a little calculator and with that control instead of a plain text control it will select all text when you single click on it like you're doing.

- Michael