Cineversity

Hi all,

I upgraded to R20 when it was released (using the MSA), but I still only use R19 since none of my old plugins work in R20.. that’s really sad, because I don’t get to play with the new features in R20..

The plugins I use mostly are small “workflow plugins”, but they do really speed up things. Anyone know where I can find plugins like these for R20? Or maybe workarounds?

- Point-to-circle (makes perfect circles of point selections)
- Flatten polygons
- Perfect Split (cuts out a polygon selection into a new object)
- Helix 5 (makes “phonecords” of splines)
- FastCheck (UV checker plugin, very useful)

Hope someone can give me some tips on this, would like to to start using R20. Thanks!

Best,
Frederik

Hi Frederik,

EDIT: for the circle, this is the plugin to use:
https://nitro4d.com/product/nitrocycle/
/edit

I certainly understand the problem and the mood that this causes.

If these plug-ins or scripts have a CSC suffix, then they are based on C.O.F.F.E.E.

A similar question was here:
https://www.cineversity.com/forums/viewthread/3212/

To check files created with a version before R20, you can use this option
https://labs.maxon.net/?p=3235

The only way to get all of that working in R20 is to ask the developers of these plug-ins, to provide a Python version.

Fingers crossed!

All the best

P.S.: I have not ignored your question about workarounds. I’m not aware of any plug-ins with the exact same functionality. Manually, it would be a longer story, but you know that of course.

P.P.S.: https://insydium.ltd/products/bridge/
Perhaps worth a try!

Hi Dr Sassi,

Thanks for your reply. The ONE plugin that I would really like a workaround for is the “Points-to Circle”. I use that lot. It makes it very easy to select a “point loop” (which can be oval or even square), and then just hit a button to make the plugin arrange these points into a perfect circle (on the same axis/plane as the points were before).

Maybe there are other commands in R20 that already do this (create circles from point selections)? If not, what would you say is the easiest “manual way” of doing this? If I cut a random hole in a model and then want to make the hole a perfect circle… Do I need to use a ‘circle spline’ (as reference) and then have the points to snap to it (while manually moving the points).. or are there easier/faster ways of doing this?

Thanks!

You’re very welcome, Frederick.

Yes, that you be my best answer as well, use a Spline and snap to it. Perhaps an “n-Side” Spline works best. Perhaps, check out Volume modeling.

To use a Circle spline a cut into an object often creates a problem. While the Phong settings will smooth out the surface, the cut will not use the previously visible surface, it will use the polygon surface of course. With this, the problem starts. I assume that is nothing new to you, but I write in a forum, so bear with me here.

To cut round holes in objects has been a theme for me since over a decade. Examples are here:
https://www.cineversity.com/vidplaytut/modeling_02_cylindrical_hole
and many more here
https://www.cineversity.com/vidplaylist/industrial_modeling_holes/industrial_modeling_-_holes_part_12

The second link shows pretty much what the plug-in you mentioned does, but here for an idealized case.
The way I understand the plug-in is, that it finds the middle point of the selected points, and then moves those points based on a sine and cosine calculations around this point. This should be doable in Python with no doubt, and there are quite a few very impressive developers who code polygon placement like a regular artist uses his/her brush. Just ask them.

All the best

Hi Frederik,

Please have a look at the screen capture and the scene file that I have attached below.
Scene file, screen capture
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/PfOfPShpzQyET5OlnQOBA1BDvu3nYrtkSmkNoDNqVXs

The idea is based on finding the nearest position of a point based on a given spline. The spline object can be projected first onto the surface of the given polygon object. The spline is not automatically put into position, that is your job. Perhaps use the snapping options to find the best spot for it. Then you delete the polygons that are no longer needed. The points along the inner border need to be stored in a Selection-Tag. Now a copy of the polygon object is required, and it serves a memory-object (Polygon.Give).
I have introduced a little Reset option as well. Please check the screen capture to see how it works.

Since the Xpresso stays active, the spline can be adjusted. Switch the Xpresso to off when done, or at any time you change objects! To create for the Polygon. Get the object each time is anyway a good idea, to have a backup. The Xpresso tag can be saved as Object manager> File> Save/Load Tag Preset

Please test this carefully, this is certainly just beta level.

I hope this will ease the transition to R20 a little bit.

ENJOY

P.S.: Flatten Polygons.
Mesh>Transform Tools> Iron
Deformers> Smoothing

P.S.:

Here is pretty much the same procedure, but more fine-tuned to create an n-side extrusion, so the SDS works nicer than a random distribution of the edges.
Note here, that I have used a disc here, a child on a camera and moved in P.Z. to place it. In this way, I can select the points and polygons much more precise.
I used here also the Align grid to selection, to have a better handle on the extrude and pulling on the new polygons.
Do not forget to optimize points before extruding the “bottle-neck”.

Here are the file and a screenshot.
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/pSftVkyghZEZFSG1Zo0pyGRTaRpgAQFl6UDPjWbLXP2

Enjoy

P.S.: perhaps have a look here, it might work as you need it.
https://nitro4d.com/product/nitrocycle/