Anyone know of a workaround for skewing/shearing a curve or solid? I've tried using the Deform function and these are the results; doesn't matter if I use a base curve or a base surface - the result is similar even after playing around with the Rigid/Stretch checkboxes
(this isn't the shape I need to skew - just an example)

Hi Raven, you can do it with a Flow using surface to surface.

If you can post your file that would make it easier to figure out what is not set up right.

I think your problem is you're using curve to curve flow which is meant to be be used more like a centerline path, not with closed curves like you have unless the object to deform was like a tube with the base curve and target curves at the centerline.

For this you would need to use surface to surface and not curve to curve.

Here's an example, I placed a plane using Draw solid > Plane (note, not Construct >Planar) , and edited its control points to make the target surface:



Select the object to deform, then run Transform > Deform > Flow and for the base curve or surface select the surface by clicking in this area, note not right at the corner, a little ways in from the corner along one edge:


Click the target surface in a matching spot like this:


That will make this result, set "Rigid" off if you had turned it on before:


- Michael

Aha - simple as that! Worked like a charm.
Yes, I did at first use a basic surface (derived from a closed square curve using 'Planar')
So what is the difference between a Plane and a square (or rectangular) Surface?

.....and once again Thank You :)

Hi Raven, you're welcome!

> So what is the difference between a Plane and a square (or rectangular) Surface?

Construct > Planar makes a trimmed plane, you can see the difference if you select each surface and used Edit > Show pts to turn on the surface's control points.

It would actually be ok to make the square with Construct > Planar but if you tried to make the skewed surface with it that would not work for flow because the "underlying surface" of the trimmed plane is not skewed:



- Michael

Roger that - so I found that if a standard Surface is to be used as a base, it'll work the same as a Plane as long as I use Command>ShrinkTrimmedSrf first and adjust points accordingly
(obviously easier to use a Plane in the first place)
Those doggone points control everything ;)