Hello,
Often i need to transform a curve into a dashed curve, for a plotter.
Usually i make the curve > run the script PointsonCurve > select the curve > Trim it with points > Delete all the points > Delete the alternate (?) small curves.
This small curves are really small, dificult to do and time consuming.
Is there a better way?
Thanks.
Carlos

I sometimes also do that manually, well hope to see line types implemented in the next moi version, which is a feature I think moi already supports (see the grid line types), am I wrong?

Hi Carlos, can you give some more details on the kind of plotter you're using? Is it some kind of CNC machine with a cutter blade or are you talking about a big printer?

You may be better off exporting your curve to AI or PDF format and then using a 2D drawing program to assign line styles and print from there.

If you don't already have a 2D vector drawing program, you might try Mayura draw which is very inexpensive (http://www.mayura.com/ , or Creature House Expression (it's old but free): http://download.microsoft.com/download/a/5/d/a5d625a5-2e3d-4e9c-8608-6de48d7b569f/CreatureHouseExpression3_3.exe

Also an old version of Adobe Illustrator is available for free here: http://www.adobe.com/downloads/cs2_downloads/

Any of those should work for opening up AI files saved out from MoI.

- Michael

Hi Max,

> I sometimes also do that manually, well hope to see line types implemented in the next moi
> version, which is a feature I think moi already supports (see the grid line types), am I wrong?

Well, the ones currently in MoI's display engine are set up to do the line spacing relative to the screen display in pixel sizes, not in model units. It has sort of yet to be determined exactly how it will work out for having line style properties directly in MoI. That is something that I want to dig into in the future though.

- Michael

Hi Michael,
I'm using a plotter with a cutting blade.
Yes, i'm aware that i could change the line type on Illustrator CC, but this plotter 'transform' any line type on regular lines, as this plotter is very old and its software very arcaic, so i often need really small curves with small gaps from each other so the plotter can make a dashed cut.
I bring this up hoping if there's a better way, or a script i missed.
Maybe its time to start saving for a new plotter : )
Thanks.
Carlos

Hi Carlos, probably the easiest way then would be to assemble your segments in a straight line by drawing one small segment and using Transform > Array > Dir to replicate that into your desired pattern.

Then once you have a bunch of straight line segments, draw another line running the entire length. Then select all the small segments (you can do 1 or 2 strategic window selections to get them all and not the long backbone line, by using the start-on-left and drag-to-right kind of window that only captures things entirely inside of it), and run Transform > Deform > Flow. Then select the long backbone line that runs the entire length of the pieces as the base curve, and your bendy curve as the target curve and that should place all your segments onto the bendy curve.

I've attached an example, in this example I've made the dashed lines slightly offset from the backbone curve just so you can see how they are configured, in your real case you'd probably want the backbone line to run right down the middle of the straight dashed ones so they will fall directly on the bendy one rather than offset to one side of it:



Hope that might make things easier for you!

- Michael

You can also use the Flow technique to make a customized dash shape by making whatever you want for the base straight pattern.



- Michael

This is kind of like a chain script, with dashes instead of links.

- Brian

Hi Michael,
Will try your sugestion, it looks a better way to do it.
Thanks for your help.
Carlos

Hello,
After digging on Illustrator forums found that is possible to do it in Illustrator (CC at least).
Draw a dashed line > Select line > Object > Flatten Trnasparency > UnGroup > Coumpound Path > Release
This work for me, hope its usefull to someone.
Carlos

Hi Carlos,

Not so long ago I wrote a script which can help you.
PatternSelection.
This script not always works good, but in your particular case it can be very helpful.
Usage: Select objects. Run script. Define a selection pattern (by using "+" "-" or "1" "0" symbols)

This video shows how it works.

Hi Max,
That is exactly what i was looking for, its great. Thanks a lot.
Now i dont need to leave Moi to finish this task. Well done, Max.
Carlos

Funny script! :)

Hi Pilou,

Yes, you can use any symbol to deselect an object, not only "0" or "-" :)
Test the new version.

Funny I just post the French tutorial version ! (not the translation because there an only one word Pattern! :)

Seems your last works fine!

http://moiscript.weebly.com/scripts-de-max-smirnov.html