This Ammonite?
https://www.google.md/search?q=ammonite&es_sm=93&biw=1097&bih=565&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=zCqyVJyuJ-K_ygP2wYKgCg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ

If yes MoI is not good for this work. It will be better to use sculpting software. Or make base in MoI and then made all organic details in Sculpting software.

Hi Lara, yes things that are more organic shapes with a kind of melty lumpy type form are not really very suitable for modeling in MoI. MoI is primarily focused on creating models by construction from 2D profile curves and it's difficult to create such forms from profile curves alone. Sculpting software such as 3D-Coat, ZBrush or Sculptris may be some good ones to try for organic shapes with bumps and ridges in them.

- Michael

The logarithmic spiral script might help.

Maybe a script could be written, as per the paper referenced at the end of this article:

http://www.sott.net/article/287395-Physicists-develop-model-of-ammonite-coiled-spiral-shell

The math would take a lot of study :-)

-Brian

Hi,
thanks for your tips and experiences.
After all I do need a model which is more an abstract ammonit object than a high detailed one.
Similar like attachement...

This are 2 of my attempts in moi.
If abstract is what you are looking for you might find a way.
But still it's a little tricky.
I'm not a very experienced MOI user.
I gave it a try to see what i could come up with.

I drew a flat spiral and drew a base shape for one high and low rickle( or how you like to call it :) )
I unwrapped the spiral, wich gives you a flat line
I copied the base shape 70times on this line and then used flow to flow it on the spiral.
Before i copied the base shape i added a point at its center.
So after i flowed it i could still run the scale array command to scale everything down a bit, big to small from the outside to the center.
It didn't exactly give me the result that i wanted.
In the center it got a little bit mixed up and had to fix it a bit.
Maybe it would be better to run scale array before flow.
But hey, maybe this will get you started. :)

Glenn

The logarithmic spiral script is here:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=6951.1

- Brian

Hello guys,
thank you very much for your help.
At the moment I can´t try your suggestions out - I´m a little bit job stressed.

I will give you feed back asap.

Best regards

P.S.: How do you run such a script in MOI?

Unzip an Put the files in the commands' Moi folder

Press Tab then write _LogSpiral on the bottom numeric box then Press Enter
(better if you have a file text with all the name's scripts so just make a copy past! ;)
(you can also make a ShortCut with _LogSpiral in the second column )
That's all :)

I do not know and I didn´t find the commands folder?!

P.S.: Sorry. I searched the folder in the GUI. I got it now in the program structure and put the files into it.
But I got a script message. Is this script working with MOI 2?

Sorry I don't know, I don't have more the Moi V2!
What is the error message ?

Attachment!

Options / General / Language/ English for have an answer by Michael! ;)

Could you make a simple example object and a screenshot of it. In order to see weather it is a script that goes the amonit way at all...

Hi Lara, I think the script is only working with MoI v3.

The script itself is not going to draw a finished solid for you, it will just give you a precise curve. If you don't need an extremely precise curve you can just draw a curve of similar shape using Draw curve > Freeform > Control points.

- Michael

Hi Glenn,
I tried to start your concept. But I need some help because some points I did not follow. (Because of my poor english and my poor MOI skills)

Here is what i do not understand of your concept:

1:
"I unwrapped the spiral, wich gives you a flat line"
Means unwrapped the sweep function? How to unwrap? Where comes then the flat line from?

2:
I copied the base shape 70times on this line and then used flow to flow it on the spiral.
Which function brings it onto the helix?

Would be nice to here from you!

1 . Unwrap : It's a command who unfold your curve (here an helix) on an straight line (you must load the 2 files! )
This line will have the lenght of the curve of course!
http://moi3d.com/forum/messages.php?webtag=MOI&msg=5136.1
Select the any curve
Press Tab then Write unwrapcurve (or copy past this word from a list text file - you can also make a shortkey)



2. Flow Command. It's an internal Command of MOI: Menu Transform / Deform / Flow

http://moi3d.com/3.0/docs/moi_command_reference8.htm#flow

Hello Pilou,
thanks for your MOI training.
Becauce I have MOI 2 the FlowCommand is not available for me. Should be in MOI3?!

Perhaps I can progress my Amonit with these new skills.

Thanks.

<< Should be in MOI3?! Yes Flow is only the V3!

But you can modelise your object without this function ;)

Maybe Scale Array can help you! ;)
http://piloumaison.weebly.com/le-scale-array.html video in French but very visual :)

http://moi3d.com/forum/messages.php?webtag=MOI&msg=275.107 use of the plugin

Hi Lara,

I'm not that skilled either.
We learn step by step.
Trying to help you out learned some new things too.

I see that Pilou basicly told you what you didn't understand.
So far I learned that there is always more than one way to get a certain result.
Flow isn't realy necessary as I also used scale aray , as Pilou suggested.

As for a base shape, look at the last example that Pilou posted.
It's one "base" or "Basic" shape that has been copied several times.
So you don't have to model all of them sepperatly.
When you go to the copy tool you have several choices.
One is to copy on a line.
So what you should do is model just one of those sections until you have a shape that you like.
Then copy it and use scale aray.
(Note that you have to put a single point at the center of the base shape you make.
You need this for the scale aray function.
You can use the command " bounding box center " to do this

If you want a nice smooth curvy surface as a end result.
You could select all the edges that you copied on the spiral and do a loft.
But it will be important to select the edges in the correct order to give you a nice result.

Hope it helps.

Otherwise, the experts such as Pilou can probably help you better than me!

Bon Jour Pilou - Hi Glenn,
I just saw the video of Pilou. I try it out next days. You both are wonderful. Deep thanks to you (and the other helpers).

MOI REALLY IS A UNBELIEVABLE WONDER!

Best regards
Lara