Cineversity

This could be one of those things that has a very easy answer or is much more complex than it should be.

The Close Polygon Hole tool creates an N-Gon when activated.  Is there an easy way to convert that N-Gon to a field of quads arranged in a grid formation?

Imagine you have a cube with each side made up of a 4x4 face of quads (16 polys per side).  Delete the 16 polys of the top face.  Use the Close Polygon Hole tool to close that opening.  An N-Gon is created.  Is there now any simple way to convert that top N-Gon back into a 4x4 grid of 16 polygons?  Currently the only way I can think of doing that is to use the Knife tool a bunch of times to create that grid.  That seems like something a computer would be good at doing in one simple step, but I’ve yet to find the tool or technique that can do that.

Yes, you could copy and paste polys from another face, line them up with the top and optimize to merge the points, but that would only work with very simple objects like this cube.

I’m aware of the QuadCaps tool.  It will generate a field of quads, but it doesn’t create them in a grid that would match the other 4x4 faces of our hypothetical cube.

Any thoughts?

Shawn Marshall
Marshall Arts Motion Graphics

Hi Shawn Marshall,

The Example of the cube might be easy to fix, just get the edge selection of the hole and use the Edge to Spline command.
With anything set to zero, but one Cap in the Extrude, the quads can be set to match the point distance of the given information.

I guess that is never that ideal … , and hence the missing tool for that so far in that way. Let me explain where I see some possible short-comings. If there is a none rectangular shape with an even number of points, the sequence alone in which it would be “knifed” would change its results. Think of a cylinder, like a can to use the label as orientation. If we cut first horizontally through the n-gon, the curve of the cylinder is gone. That being again an idealized example, as we might have to deal with a more complex shape. (Etc.) Even the projection how the cut is done (or the points are being produced) is crucial, in the example file …_21.c4d it shows clearly. I cut the right example horizontally as the last cut while “looking from above, the curve illustrates this, i.e., I assume always, that an artist’s decision is crucial here. For an automated process, that would be some needed information, before it can even start. (Yes, the plug you mentioned looks promising for a lot of cases, and it is really affordable)

Examples:
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/RYFgvXteGsJowqpQ56y1OAq81AXT0IfrKRYw9jZlasI

Another approach is discussed here:
https://www.cineversity.com/vidplaytut/turn_any_object_into_hexagons_with_instant_meshes
Donovan clearly shows here a nice way to get a great mesh in even organic shapes.

This approach works, after the four sides has been converted via “Edge to Spline” and then this option here has been used: Coons Mesh
https://labs.maxon.net/?p=2968

However, yes, this is a common task, and it would be nice to have more attention on it, especially with the option do define the results upfront.
This would require an entry here:
https://www.maxon.net/en-us/support/suggestions/

All the best

P.S.: Here is a short screen-capture of the Coons Mesh Plug in (It’s free, link above)

Clip:
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/Z2Q3645GZGoSZENunBCZoxBYsKAuXRrZjcVflQBsjPB

Please test it if it works for your kind or projects.

Thanks for the tips.  For now the Edge loop to Spline to Loft with a quad grid cap worked pretty well.  The Mesh Plug in looks pretty cool; I’ll play around with it when I’ve met my deadlines.

Best.

Shawn

You’re very welcome, Shawn, thanks for the feedback.

All the best

Image: Cap creation with the Coons Mesh plug in. An Extrude to the inside first would improve a lot the results.