My First Prop

Stezza

after making your poly line try Model--Fill Polygon then use Construct--Organic

 

see if that makes a difference :-)

 

wgdjohn

Thanks Stezza, worked... figured it was something simple that I'd not tried yet. All the times I've made poly outlines... never though of filling one.

evilproducer

1) Draw a shape, like a rough cross section of the arch. Since it is going to start from the "ground", I would choose the top view and draw.

2) From the Model menu, choose Fill Polygon. The shape you drew, which is a cross section of the arch, should now be filled.

3) Choose a side view, like left for instance, and use the poly line tool to draw a single line in the shape of the arch. You aren't making a filled shape. It should be only a single line.

4)You want to select the filled polygon you made in steps 1 and 2, and then select the icon that looks like a bent pipe, which is the Path Sweep tool. Then, select the poly line you made in step 4. The polygon shape should be extruded along the poly line.

5) (Optional) I usually adjust the scale and or shape of the cross sections before I increase the model's resolution by subdividing.

It's a great way of making vines. Just make a cross section shape, draw a poly line in the shape of the vine trunk, and use the path sweep tool. Next, select multiple random polygons along the length of the vine, and create a shading domain for them. Then use a surface replicator set to replicate in that shading domain, add a wispy little plant and instant vine!

evilproducer

Stezza's way is great as well. There's more than one way to skin a cat in Carrara!

wgdjohn

Thanks for the path sweep "cat skinning". :)  I tend to create too many points than I need and hadn't tried it for an inperfect arch. Less points=less adjustments. 5) (Optional) is the last thing I do.