Tin

Tin is a mesh polygon object which introduces subdivide modeling into Amorphium. Subdivision modeling opens more possibilities for synthetic and organic modeling. Character modeling can look more realistic, and some synthetic objects can be made easier with the ability to custom fit other models.

A Synthetic Hose

Human Head

Custom Fit Props

Subdivision Modeling

Subdivision Modeling uses a technique which draws a cage around the object. The cage is then used to manipulate the underlying polygons ( mesh ) and shape of the object. Cages consist of Loops, Edges and Vertices. A vertices is where two or more edges come together or are connected, a edge is the line used to connect two vertices together, and loops consist of three or more edges.


With subdivision modeling individual polygons are not selected, cluster of polygons are represented by a loop, edge or vertex. With this example there are six loops one for each side of the object. All the underlying polygons on one side of the object are represented by the loop on that side. So polygons can be represented by a vertex, edge and loop, depending on the location of the polygon on the mesh.


Edges represent polygons on each side of the edge.


Vertices represent polygons on all three sides of the vertex ( or four sides for four edge vertices ).


Editing Loops, Edges and Vertices is done by selecting the control points. Whenever any of the loop, edge or vertices tools are selected, the control points for that type tool are displayed. Control points can be selected by using the select tool for loops, edge, or vertices. Or when any of the loop, edge or vertices tools are current, control points can be selected by holding the Shift Key at clicking them. When a control point is selected it is indicated by turning red. Control points can be selected or unselected individually by clicking on them, or selected in groups by clicking and dragging an outline over them. When an outline is drawn over control points that are already selected in will unselect all the points that where selected and select all the control point that where not selected, basically it inverts the selection. All control points can be unselected by using the select tool in null space, or holding the shift key and clicking in null space. Selection of any type control points is saved in the undo/redo memory.

Vertices control points are found right at the vertex.


Edge control points are found at the center of the edge.


Loop control points are found in the center of the loop.


Drawing outlines will select groups of control points. Drawing outlines over already selected control points will invert the selection.


Control Point Editing Tools





Are the tool sets used to edit points, each set has a transform tool which has additional options ( indicated by the red dot on the tool icon ). These transform tools have three transformation options, which can be set by right clicking the tool, to bring up the transform menu.

Whenever a transform tool is the current selected tool, a keyboard short cut for this menu is:
M  key = Move
S   key = Scale
R   key = Rotate

Theses transformations can also be constrained to a particular axes by holding the X,Y,Z, keys.

X   key = X Axes
Y   key = Y Axes
Z   key = Z Axes

And an axes constraint and transform option can be done in unison with each other.
Example: S key can be held with the X key to scale on the X axes only.

Vertices Tools

Keyboard shortcut to Vertices tools = V key

Select Tool: used to select vertices control points.

Transform Tool: used to move, scale and rotate vertices control points. Control points can be moved one at a time, but two or more need to be selected to scale or rotate them. Also when rotating, two control points aligned on the same axes, they will not rotate when constrained to that axes.

Move One Control Point

Scale Two Control Point

Rotate Two Control Point

Two control points aligned on the same axes, will not rotate when constrained to that axes.


Chop Tool: cut vertices, when a vertex is chopped it cuts that vertex, but creates new vertices at the half way point of every edge that was connected to the chopped vertex. So a 3 edge vertex will have 3 new vertices created, a four edge vertex will have 4 new vertices created, a six edge vertex will have 6 new vertices created. When chop is used new polygons are generated in the underlying mesh.

Before Chop

Three Edge Vertex Chopped

All Top Vertices Chopped

Before Chop

Four Edge Vertex Chopped

Six Edge Chopped

Connect Tool: creates an edge between two vertices. This tool is used by clicking on a vertex then dragging to another vertex, then a white line will appear to indicate which two vertices will be connected with an edge when the button is released. This tool also generates new polygons in the underlying mesh. Connecting two vertices by crossing an existing edge is not supported.

White Line

Vertices Connected

Can Not cross an Edge

Numeric Tool: uses a menu so a vertex can be precisely position by typing in it's location along the three axes. This menu is not a real time menu, so the modeling window is only updated after the menu is closed using the OK button.


Collapse Tool: this tool is used by preselecting vertices, then clicking the tool in null space to collapse all the selected vertices into one vertex. The new vertex will be located at the center most point of all the preselected vertices, and polygons will be subtracted from the underlying mesh.

Preselect Vertices

Click In Null Space

Delete Tool: is used by clicking on a vertex ( preselecting and multi selection is not supported ). The vertex, connecting edges and the underlying polygons are completely deleted, but new polygons are created to fill the void on the mesh.

Before

After

Hard Delete Tool: is used by clicking on a vertex ( preselecting and multi selection is not supported ). The vertex, connecting edges and the underlying polygons are completely deleted, leaving a void or hole in the underlying mesh.

Before

After

Edge Tools

Keyboard shortcut to Edge tools = E key

Select Tool: used to select edge control points.

Transform Tool: used to move, scale and rotate edge control points. Control points can be moved, scaled or rotated one at a time, but when only one edge is selected it can not be rotated on the axes it is aligned with.

Move One Control Point

Scale One Control Point

Rotate One Control Point

Edge, Aligned with Y

Edge, Aligned with X

Edge, Aligned with Z

Two or more edge control points need to be selected, in order for them to be rotated on the axes they are aligned with.

Subdivide Tool: splits the edge in half creating two edges out of one. Not only is the edge split in half but new polygons are created in the underlying mesh. The tool can be used by clicking on an edge control point, or preselecting control points and clicking in null space to subdivide multi edges.

Subdivided One Edge

Preselect Edges to be Subdivided

Click the Tool in Null Space

Connect Tool: connects two edge control points together, which in turn creates a new loop and generates more polygons in the underlying mesh. The tool is used by clicking on an edge control point the dragging to an adjoining control point, a white line is displayed where the new edge will be created when the button is released. Connecting an edge by crossing an existing edge is not supported.

White Line

New Edge Created

Can not cross an existing edge

Crease Tool: sets the smoothness of the underlying mesh that the edge represents. With lower values being smoother and higher values being sharper. The menu is a real time menu showing the changes as they are made before the function is applied. Control points can be creased individually by clicking on them or in groups by preselecting them.

Crease Menu

Intensity Menu

Crease Intensity Smooth

Intensity 1

Intensity Maximum

Collapse Tool: collapses the selected edge, edges can be collapsed one at a time by clicking on the control point or in groups by preselecting them and clicking in null space. When an edge is collapsed polygons are subtracted from the underlying mesh. Multi collapsing edges yield different results than if the same edges were collapsed separately.

Collapsed one edge

Edges Preselected

Multi Edges Collapsed

Two Edges to be Collapsed

Collapsed at Once

Collapsed one at a Time

Delete Tool: is used by clicking on an edge control point ( preselecting and multi selection is not supported ). The edge and the underlying polygons are completely deleted, but new polygons are created to fill the void on the mesh.

Before

After

Hard Delete Tool: is used by clicking on an edge control point ( preselecting and multi selection is not supported ). The edge and the underlying polygons are completely deleted, leaving a void or hole in the underlying mesh.

Before

After

Loop Tools

Keyboard shortcut to Loop tools = L key

Select Tool: used to select loop control points.

Transform Tool: used to move, scale and rotate loop control points. Control points can be moved, scaled or rotated one at a time, uniformly or constrained to an axes.

Move One Control Point

Scale One Control Point

Rotate One Control Point

Subdivide Tool: subdivides four edge loops into 4 quadrangle when the loops are preselected. When four edge loops are subdivided individually, then any loop that shares an edge with a loop that has already been subdivided, creates 6 triangle shape loops when subdivided. When three edge loops are preselected it subdivides the loops into 3 uniform quadrangle. When the three edge loops are done individually the any loop that shares an edge with a loop that has already been subdivided, creates 3 nonuniform quadrangle. This tool also generates new polygons in the underlying mesh.

Subdivided 1 four edge loop

Preselected four edge loop

Individually subdivided four edge loops

Subdivided 1 three edge loop

Preselected three edge loop

Individually subdivided three edge loops

Subdivide Radially Tool: subdivides creating triangle shaped loops. This tool creates uniform loops whether used individually or preselecting multi loops. This tool also generates new polygons in the underlying mesh.

Subdivided 1 four edge loop

Subdivided multi four edge loop

Subdivided 1 three edge loop

Subdivided multi three edge loop

Extrude Tool: extrude the loop inwards or outward perpendicular, creating a new set of loops surrounding the extrude loops.

One Loop Extrude Outward

One Loop Extrude Inward

This tool also has additional options ( indicated by the red dot on the tool icon ) which can be accessed by right clicking the tool. The additional options are for multi loop extrusion, which determine if the loops are extrude as a group or separately. The as a group option treats all the selected loops as one unit, extruding perpendicular to the general location of the loops. The separately option extrude's all the selected loops perpendicular to the way each loop is facing, like it does when only one loop is selected.

Two Loops Extruded as a Group

Two Loops Extruded Separately

Insert Loop Tool: create a new loop inside a loop, which in turn creates four loops around a four edge loop, or three new loops around a three edge loop. This tool also uses the left to right side of the modeling window to determine how large the inserted loop will be. To determine the size of the new loop, preselect the loops, then clicking the tool on the right side produces a smaller inserted loop, clicking the left side produces larger inserted loops.

Four edge loop

Three edge loop

Insert using Right side click

Insert using Middle click

Insert using Left side click

Connect Loop Tool: connects two loops together to form one loop. The tool is used by clicking on a loop then dragging to another loop, a white line will appear indicating the two loops to be connected when the button is released. This tool subtracts geometry from the under lying mesh, when the to loops being connected cross over other loops geometry is subtracted from the middle of the mesh creating a hole through it.

White Line Indicates the Two Loops

Side by Side Loops

Loops Cross Over Other Loops

Invert Loop Tool: reverses the normals of the under lying mesh. Note that even though it appears as there is a hole in the mesh, it is just because the normals are inverted. So when it is rendered the area with the inverted normals will render, but any texture or shader material will be reversed in that area.

Before Invert Tool

After Invert Tool

Rendered with Material

Visibility Tool: this is a workspace tool only, it hides loops. It is used by dragging an out line over the loop's control point. Note that preselecting control points or clicking on control points is not supported with this tool. Also when this tool is current holding the shift key will not allow control point selection, but it will unselect any selected control points.

Before Visibility Tool

After Visibility Tool

Collapse Tool: collapses the selected loop, loops can be collapsed one at a time by clicking on the control point or in groups by preselecting them and clicking in null space. When a loop is collapsed polygons are subtracted from the underlying mesh. Multi collapsing loops yield different results than if the same loops were collapsed separately.

Two Loops to be Collapsed

Separately Collapsing Two Loops

Preselecting same Two Loops

Delete Tool: is used by clicking on a loop control point ( preselecting and multi selection is not supported ). The loop and any loops which share an edge with the deleted loop are deleted too. The underlying polygons are completely deleted, but new polygons are created to fill the void on the mesh.

Before Deleting

After Deleting

Hard Delete Tool: is used by clicking on a loop control point ( preselecting and multi selection is not supported ). The underlying polygons are completely deleted, leaving a void or hole in the underlying mesh, but all edges which are shared with other loops are left in tacked. When a loop is hard deleted next to another loop which has been hard deleted then the shaded edge is deleted to.

Before Hard Delete

After Hard Delete

Hard Delete Two Loops Side by Side

Object Tools


These tools are used to alter the tin object's cage as well as the underlying mesh. They can be used to alter the density and shape of the cage and mesh, adding, subtracting and mirroring geometry.

Keyboard shortcut to Object tools = O key

Subdivide Tool: subdivides globally adding four loops for every existing loop. So if an object has 6 loops it will have 24 loops the first time the subdividing tool is used, it would then have 96 loops the second time it is used. This tool is basically used to increase the density of the cage, giving more control points for editing. It also increases the amount of triangle for smother distortion transitions in other workspaces. The are two ways to subdivide the cage, one maintains the curvature of the object, and the other maintains the shape of the cage. This option is accessed by right clicking the tool.

Before Subdividing

Maintain Curvature

Maintain Cage

Insert Rib Tool: used to place more control points to a specific area, a cage line must be crossed with the tool for a rib to be added. For every cage line crossed a new loop is create. Holding the Shift key while creating the rib will constrain the rib to angles of 45 degree increments.

One Cage Line Crossed

Multi Cage lines Crossed

Snapped to 45% angle

Symmetry Tool: is used to add, subtract and mirror geometry. It uses the center of the object along with starting and ending points to determine which function is implemented. When symmetry is used above the center of the object, lines drawn from right to left add to the geometry, and lines drawn from left to right subtract from the geometry. When symmetry is used below the center of the object, lines drawn from right to left subtract from the geometry, and lines drawn from left to right add to the geometry. When symmetry is used to the right of the center of the object, lines drawn from top to bottom subtract from the geometry, and lines drawn from bottom to top adds to the geometry. When symmetry is used to the left of the center of the object, lines drawn from top to bottom adds to the geometry, and lines drawn from bottom to top subtract from the geometry. The Symmetry tool actually mirrors the object anytime geometry is added, but to get a complete mirror of the object the tool needs to be used in an add direction without touching the object, or barely touching an edge of the object. The symmetry tool can also be used to completely clear the object so a new one can be made with the pen tool. This tool will also be constrained to 45 degree angles when the Shift key is held while using it.

No Symmetry Used

Above Center, Right to Left Symmetry

Above Center, Left to Right Symmetry

No Symmetry Used

Below Center, Right to Left Symmetry

Below Center, Left to Right Symmetry

No Symmetry Used

Right of Center, Top to Bottom Symmetry

Right of Center, Bottom to Top Symmetry

No Symmetry Used

Left of Center, Top to Bottom Symmetry

Left of Center, Bottom to Top Symmetry

Before Symmetry Used

Mirrored Not Touching

Mirrored Barely Touching

Revolve Tool: is used on tin object that only consist of one loop. These objects can be created with the Pen tools, or tin planes can be created in Composer with the option of 1 subdivision ( one loop ). The tool revolves the loop 360 degrees. It works similar to the Symmetry tool, in that the geometry is revolved differently according to the area and direction the tool is used. The tool can also be constrained to 45 degree angles by holding the Shift key. The options for this tool ( right click the tool ) are to set the number of steps. The steps determine how many loops are used to revolve the 360 degrees. The values can be set between 3 & 62.

Before Revolving

Above center, right to left

Above center, left to right

Three Steps

Ten Steps

Fifty Steps

Optimize Tool: optimizes the number of loops while maintaining the shape of the cage. The tolerance can be set on the option menu ( right click the tool )


example: if a cage is cubic in shape and has 96 loops, it only takes 6 loops to maintain the shape of the cage, so the optimize tool will eliminate 90 loops leaving only 6 to maintain the shape of the cage.

Cubic 96 Loop Cage

After Optimizing 6 loops left.

Where a cage that contains irregular shapes will retain the irregular shape through the optimize process.

Irregular Shape Cage Before Optimizing

Irregular Shape Cage After Optimizing.

Pen Tools


These tool are used to draw single loop objects. A tin object has to be present in the workspace to draw using the pen tools. If need be the original tin object can be eliminated using the symmetry tool or by deleting all the vertices, edges or loops. After loops are created they can be edited using the vertices, edge, or loop tools. They can be extruded using the loop extrude tool, and revolved using the object revolve tool.

Keyboard shortcut to Pen tools = P key

Loop Drawn With Pen Tool

Extruded

Revolved

Create Loop Tool: used to draw custom shaped loops. The first click with the tool defines the starting point, then ever click creates a line from the previous point. When the starting point is clicked again the lines are closed and the loop created.

Creating a Custom Loop

Adding more lines

Closing Lines

Rectangle Loop Tool: draws a rectangular shape outline, then creates the loop to the shape of the outline when mouse button is released.

Rectangular Outline of Loop

Loop Created

This interface tutorial is written and provided by : Stephen Ray