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Posted: 13 September 2018 10:06 PM   [ Ignore ]  
Total Posts:  98
Joined  2018-05-13

Hello Sassi,

I want to create a heptagram like the attached photo. I can create this in Illustrator and import into C4D to sweep a circle along the spline, for example. That gets the job done.

But I’d like to create using C4D from the start. I have tried manipulating a 7 sided n-gon spline but this has not worked out. Please can you offer some tips, you don’t necessarily need to supply a scene file, may be some pointers to the tools or techniques I should explore further.

Thanks,
David

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Posted: 13 September 2018 10:18 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 1 ]  
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Hi David,

You take a Cloner and just rotate/revolve (1234º) the clones. Then use a Tracer to connect all of them and done. Copy the Tracer and press the c key to get a Spline.

Scene file and scene capture.
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/VmghT2cl7cKTO4LqpU1Nq8yi3JlpOiXxNSlmm61Cwpr

Alternative: the same method works with 1080º and seven clones, while checking the Tracer>Close Spline. With the CV-Chamfer tool things can stay purely generator based. Etc.
Scene file:
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/2uBHO7vaG4fFCohZjY8XjBeBYc9HMPX1fZAzdLqxDKI


ENJOY

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Dr. Sassi V. Sassmannshausen Ph.D.
Cinema 4D Mentor since 2004
Maxon Master Trainer, VES, DCS

Photography For C4D Artists: 200 Free Tutorials.
https://www.youtube.com/user/DrSassiLA/playlists

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Posted: 14 September 2018 12:58 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 2 ]  
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P.S.: of course one could just create it with “separate” sticks. E.g., with a Cloner and move the clones in the Transfer Tab a little. Done

Scene
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/tQZUO0BZAzZSP8wzkqzksQGpOleXiilBRzNYxcBvUQQ

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Dr. Sassi V. Sassmannshausen Ph.D.
Cinema 4D Mentor since 2004
Maxon Master Trainer, VES, DCS

Photography For C4D Artists: 200 Free Tutorials.
https://www.youtube.com/user/DrSassiLA/playlists

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Posted: 14 September 2018 02:31 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 3 ]  
Total Posts:  98
Joined  2018-05-13

Hi Sassi,

I have just spent my lunch hour exploring the scene files. Thank you so much, it’s really opened my eyes to looking at things differently. I haven’t looked at the tracer function yet as I’ve been looking at so many other areas, so good to see how this can be used.

To further explore and model the first scene you sent, I added an n-gon sweep to the 8 sphere/1234 rotation spline and it caused a strange clipping at the top point (see left object in scene file below “Clipped Top” in Object Manager). However I do not see this glitch on the 7 sphere/1080 rotation version. Thought you might like to know about the clipping if it may be caused by something else or is expected.

The next step I wanted to do was convert the heptagon spline to a polygon object. So I tried with both the Loft and Extrude effect and they both cause another strange effect as shown on the right hand object in the scene file below.

Any pointers much appreciated.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lvwgr4426eku3ch/heptagram.c4d?dl=1

Thanks,
David

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Posted: 14 September 2018 03:05 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 4 ]  
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Hi David,

Thanks for the file.

Some combination will just not fly. The Loft Object works with more than one Spline, not one spline that crosses itself many times. There is not more to say about. It is just not possible. (In the scene called “Polygon”.

The Clipped Top, one missing spike, is based on two vertices/points there (they are very close). Zoom into that area and delete one point. Since it is already set to close, it created this effect around the two points. Once it is a one point tip, it will show as the others.
Have a look: Your file
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/xes0KVYc7rX7ZfHXfMoHKJSa9PB2A51KI7p7YUTPDmU

Besides Boolean, I would have no idea to get this quickly as a single surface (not separated) surface/object.

Good night, enjoy your evening.

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Dr. Sassi V. Sassmannshausen Ph.D.
Cinema 4D Mentor since 2004
Maxon Master Trainer, VES, DCS

Photography For C4D Artists: 200 Free Tutorials.
https://www.youtube.com/user/DrSassiLA/playlists

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Posted: 14 September 2018 03:15 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 5 ]  
Total Posts:  98
Joined  2018-05-13

Got it, thank you and enjoy your evening too, David

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Posted: 14 September 2018 12:06 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 6 ]  
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You’re very welcome, David.

Just to be complete in my answer, here is the Volume version
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/68iquqnCqkT7IKkiNPB33qApWerbYsGqZxKXtDTcjwT

My best wishes.

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Dr. Sassi V. Sassmannshausen Ph.D.
Cinema 4D Mentor since 2004
Maxon Master Trainer, VES, DCS

Photography For C4D Artists: 200 Free Tutorials.
https://www.youtube.com/user/DrSassiLA/playlists

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