[Plugin] Silhouette to Plane v1.1

TIG · 22 Oct 2010, 21:56

(c) TIG 2010
Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for
any purpose and without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
copyright notice appear in all copies.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

You need this file
#SilhouetteToPlane.rb >>> Plugins Folder
You must also have this file
#WorkPlane.rb >>> Plugins Folder

Usage:
Make or choose a 'WorkPlane' that is located on the 'plane' onto which
you want to project your 'flattened' Geometry.
Select the 'WorkPlane' and the required Geometry [Edges etc, note that
Faces etc will be ignored], and/or Groups, and/or Component_Instances.
Run this Tool from the menu 'Plugins' > 'Silhouette to Plane'
or type 'silhouettetoplane' in the Ruby Console.
If there is no 'WorkPlane' and/or other objects in the Selection you get an
error message.
Assuming it runs...
All Edges in the Selection that are not 'hidden' or not on 'off layers' are
projected onto that 'plane'.
The new 'flattened' Edges are put into a new Group named 'SIL_123456.789'
[it has a 'date/time' suffix].
Each new Edge takes the original Edge's layer.
The new Edges are inspected and only those that are needed to form a fully
faced 'silhouette' WITHOUT cut-outs are retained.
With this version internal 'hole' cut-outs in silhouettes are NOT formed.
On completion the new Group ['SIL_123456.789'] is left highlighted.

Donations:
by PayPal to info @ revitrev.org ___________________________________________________________________________
Version:
1.0 20101022 First release.
1.1 20101023 The correct Plane of a 'WorkPlane' is now used even if it has
been Transformed inside its own Group.
Speed and reliability improved. Title fixed.
___________________________________________________________________________#SilhouetteToPlane.rb

shura · 22 Oct 2010, 22:57

very good idea TIG! Although, I am getting some errors here - with a single loop of edges it works fine, but for several faces it gets messed up:

btw, would it be possible to have the projection lines run all to the same focal point, similar to Radial Lines plugin? Like this we could also have a flattened picture of a perspective view.

TIG · 22 Oct 2010, 23:06

This is the first [buggy] release!
Can you post and example SKP so that I can see the errors...

shura · 22 Oct 2010, 23:16

SU 7.1 on Vista, have tons of plugins but only one error so far (wxfsu) ...

silhouetteError.skp

honoluludesktop · 23 Oct 2010, 01:34

TIG, How many plugin, and point releases are you currently averaging? 1 a week?-)

And, you still find time to help us. Thanks!!!!!

pilou · 23 Oct 2010, 01:40

@unknownuser said:

1 a week?

1 a day is more appropriated

Didier Bur · 23 Oct 2010, 11:56

Hi TIG,
I suggest you change line #63 to: @model.start_operation("Silhouette to Plane")
Thanks for all your hard work !

TIG · 23 Oct 2010, 12:48

Here's v1.1 http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=281445#p281445
The correct Plane of a 'WorkPlane' is now used even if it has been Transformed inside its own Group.
Speed and reliability improved.
Title fixed.

EarthMover · 23 Oct 2010, 14:13

Great Script! Perfect for sorting out faces that have trouble closing. Could you possibly have it so that if no work plane is selected, that it will default to a placing the silhouette on the 0 z plane? Similar to ThomThoms Flatten script in his "Plan Tools", except yours automagically creates the face and groups it.

TIG · 23 Oct 2010, 15:05

@earthmover said:

Great Script! Perfect for sorting out faces that have trouble closing. Could you possibly have it so that if no work plane is selected, that it will default to a placing the silhouette on the 0 z plane? Similar to ThomThoms Flatten script in his "Plan Tools", except yours automagically creates the face and groups it.

You could always make a quick WorkPlane on the ground...

shura · 23 Oct 2010, 22:07

Just great! You are a hero, hats off to thee!

TIG · 24 Oct 2010, 14:57

Here's an example...

pilou · 24 Oct 2010, 16:16

This sort of image must be at each first post

EarthMover · 24 Oct 2010, 16:39

Here's another example.

Silhouette to plane is also great for flattening a set of looped edges you want to be planar to form a face, but cant seem to find the vert that's out of whack.

xrok1 · 24 Oct 2010, 17:40

this could be great for making face me components! render the 3d version then apply as texture to the 2d.

Ben Ritter · 25 Oct 2010, 16:32

TIG, fabulous! Thank you for the flatten to plane script as well. You are very generous, and gifted.

caleidos4d · 26 Oct 2010, 18:12

TIG!!!

danbig · 27 Oct 2010, 16:06

Thanks, TIG. Amazing script.

Does this plugin do the flatten to plane, or is that a separate plugin? I can't seem to find the command for flatten to plane. (Silhouette to Plane is working great)

shura · 27 Oct 2010, 17:04

Flatten to Plane:

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=31895

shura · 28 Oct 2010, 10:49

Just to point out again what Adam already said, Silhouette to Workplane makes closing difficult outlines sooo easy. Brought back the faith in freehand tool to me.

Rocky, that is a pretty smart idea. I am having thoughts about this kind of matte painting tricks all the time.
(like here: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=79&t=31069 )

thanks again for your generosity TIG!