Patches

[guamdude]

Hey guys.

I am pretty new to Animation Master. I've had it for years, but rarely used it until now.

 

I was looking at tutorials for Patching...but I do not get how to do it, and have tried many things on my own. Could anyone help me?

 

My goal is to make Shoulders patch with Torsos to give a smooth look instead of two shapes put together, so that when it bends, it shows a whole edge of, lets say, a cylindrical object. Its hard for me to explain.

 

I basically just want smoothness in joints and the ability to round corners.

 

I don't get ANY of the patching systems available in AM.

 

By the way, I am using Animation Master 2002.

 

Thanks.

[RViewer]

Hello Guamdude.

 

Tell you what. We can certainly get you producing the patches of your desires. But first I think I need at least a small idea of what is (at this point anyway) the thing most standing in your way. The best idea would be to give us some kind of a pic of what you mean. Or at least some more explanation.

 

With that said, here is a stab in the dark that might help. Make a 4 point patch by creating and connecting 4 control points. Now press 0 or 9 and look for a white surface. If you do not see it, rotate around an look at the back.

 

We can give much more help, but we need just a little bit more to go on.

 

Hope this helps and that you keep trying because this is a great program to use.

[guamdude]

Ah, yes, Thanks for pointing out my flaw in communication.

 

I will use a semi-old project I did: a pistol.

 

Now, the pistol's handle, trigger guard, and trigger are simply laid underneath the Slide of the gun. The type of patching I am looking for, would be to connect all the edges of those objects to the Slide itself, creating a smooth curve.

 

Another example would be taking an arm and connecting it to the upper area of a torso (the shoulder area) where it belongs, and using patches to connect it smoothly to that area.

 

I only have a picture of the gun right now, and its a File Attachment.

 

Thanks for your help, I will try your suggestion ASAP.

 

Hopefully this is enough information, if not, sorry.

[RViewer]

Yeah, a picture!

 

I would need to see a wireframe shot of the gun to know exactly what I am seeing but I think I am beginning to understand what your after.

 

If you are used to using polygon based apps you may be used to building a model in pieces and moving them into place without attaching them. When you go to attach pieces of mesh in A:M they can change shape slightly when you connect them to a curved spline. If you hold down ctrl when attaching one control point to another the connecting spline will maintain its original shape better after attachment.

 

As for a type of spline that makes a better curve, there is only one type of spline in A:M. What makes one spline look better curved than another is that some have more control points along them to help guide the shape. You can always go back to a spline and add in more control points and space them out to make a smoother curve.

 

By looking at your model gun, I am guessing you already know how to connect splines and make patches very well. I like your model!

 

I am not sure if this is what you are asking, and it may be a misunderstanding on my part more than a communication difficulty on yours.

[guamdude]

Cool.

 

I'll get back to you after I try your suggestions out. What you said seems to be what I am looking for.

 

I'll add another Reply if I can't get this to work and we could go from there.

 

Thanks RViewer.

[guamdude]

Alright, so I tried out the 0,9 thing....

 

Didn't do much...it seemed to change the color into a darker shade and allowed me to manipulate my model without the render going away.

Remember, I have NO clue about patching, which is why I want to learn it, so you'll have to be more detailed.

 

If you wouldn't mind, I could send my model to you and you can play with it and maybe take a few screenshots during the process. Just an idea.

 

I selected the 4-cp's and hit those numbers...but what I stated above is all that happened.

 

Here are the wireframe pictures. As you can see, the Handle just slides right into the Slide itself and thats where it remains along with the magazine, trigger guard, and the trigger.

 

Is there a set amount of points that are able to be patches at once? (ie. 4-point, 5-point patches)

 

Sorry man, its confusing for me haha.

[robcat2075]

guamdude,

 

The essential problem is that you're not running your splines together in the right way. Good patches are all about running the splines together in the right way.

 

have you seen the Basic splinesmanship tutorials? They are must-reads.

 

Trying to use splines as if they were sides of polygons will lead to bad results.

[guamdude]

I haven't been on the forums for awhile, so I haven't read your suggestion, BUT

 

I did have the common sense to look at that tutorial about two days ago, and now...

 

I am very happy! I can do SO much more now and finish things off that I couldn't before. I even emailed Mr. Jeff Cantin (the creator of the tutorial, and someone who helped me a few months ago with a different problem) and thanked him.

 

Thanks for your help guys, and excuse my newbish ways

 

-guamdude