Modeling Using a Grid

You can deform a mesh using a grid tool. It allows several deformations: Stretching, shearing, twisting, scaling, and modeling.

Before you begin:

See also FreeStyle Shaper, Optimizer & Profiler User's Guide: Editing and Keeping a Point.

  1. From the Digitized Data section of the action bar, click Grid Modeling .
  2. Select the mesh to deform.
    • A grid tool frames the mesh: It corresponds to the bounding box of the mesh.
    • Dots are displayed in the middle of each face of the box.
    • Dots are displayed in the middle of each face of the box, as well as degree and continuity tools (Right-click a dot to edit dot, degree and continuity).
  3. Optional: Click:
    • to hide the degree tools
    • to hide the continuity tools.
  4. Increase or decrease the resolution of the grid.
    • Right-click a degree tag and select a new degree.
    • Or click a degree tag to progressively increase the value.
    • Or shift-click to decrease the value.
  5. Select the deformation mode.
    • Face Grid: You can only manipulate one entire face in the grid. Three operations can be performed.
      • Translation
      • Scaling
      • Rotation.
    • Law: You can drag the handle of one face to manipulate several faces.

      Select the type of law.

      Note: Only available with the Face Grid mode.
    • Point Grid: You can stretch vertices and edges individually in the grid tool.

      Use the Robot to control the translation direction.

  6. Define the Display options to control the direction.
  7. Select the Dynamic Update check box to control the deformation update.

    By default, this check box is not selected and the deformation is applied at the end of the manipulation.

  8. Move the mouse close to any of the dots (Face Grid) or any of the vertices or edges (Point Grid). Drag the arrows to stretch the model.