Hey fellas! I hope all of you are doing great.

I was wondering, is there a way to get a lattice type deformation on an object using flow or any other moi function? (you know to get a tapered effect on a complex object- larger base, smaller top gradually for example)

First thing that came to mind was to use flow two times, on two axes. Is there any simpler way to get an effect like this? Cylinder is just for visuals here, I would like to have the option for complex objects.

Thanks!

Yes Draw a Trapezoidal Plane as Target
Take a rectangular section of the solid as Start ;)
And Flow will make a magic result! ;)

Or try something like this...with Histo


or

Hi nameless, yes it's possible by making a base plane and then tapered trapezoidal target shape like Pilou shows above.

So the part to be aware of is that Flow works by using the "underlying surface" so you don't want to make the trapezoidal shape to be a trimmed plane, you want the surface's control points to be modified to be trapezoidal. So that means don't make the trapezoid using Construct >Planar, do something like draw it using Draw solid >Plane and edit control points or do a loft between 2 lines.

Basically when you use Edit > Show pts on the trapezoidal shape you want to see the control points like this:



And not like this where the trapezoid shape is from a trimming boundary and the underlying surface is still a rectangle:



- Michael

Flow with History...

Thank you for answering Michael and Pilou! I really appreciate it!

Yes, the reference plain is not trimmed Michael, the points stay on the corners and if needed I add points. But if you want a cylinder to not be "squeezed" in one dimension you have to take a two step process adding a second perpendicular plane and running flow again, correct?

I am just trying to make sure I am not taking the "long way home" :D

Woah, I really need to experiment with the history option, haven't tried it!

Hi nameless,

re:
> But if you want a cylinder to not be "squeezed" in one dimension you have to take a two
> step process adding a second perpendicular plane and running flow again, correct?

Yes that's correct.

- Michael

Thanks a lot for all the help!

Something I found interesting with Flow and history is that you can change colors of the target item then update the target and the geometry will update and leave the new color intact.

In the attached video I changed the strips on the corners, then edited the target and new colors remain updated.