I'm trying to make a spline shape with Carrara5 but having no luck. Imagine a 180 degree awning coming out over the sidewalk at the entrance of a hotel, like 1/2 a tube. One end is attached to the flat sided building. The other end, however, is a curve sweeping up from the side to the top. Every time I try to shape the side into the cut-out curve the whole shape moves. I just want to know if it is possible or not to do this shape with a spline extrusion and which method, symmetrical, symmetrical plane, or free.

Click image to make larger. Hi pisaacs, There is nothing ever simple about compound curves. ;-) There are several ways to do this shape in either the Vertex or Spline Modeler. Since you asked about the Spline version here is how you do it. 1) Draw your cross section shape and then choose "Symmetrical in Plane" for the extrusion option. 2) Draw the Extrusion Envelope from the top position. 3) Change the extrusion method to "Free" (Yes, you can change in mid-model - just be careful. Doing changes in the wrong order will un-do work - The order is Symmetrical, Symmetrical in Plane and then Free. "Free" should always be last) 4) From the Left View, grab the end point on the bottom of the extrusion envelope and drag upwards until it looks right. Notice that my envelope only has three points. In doing shapes like this, the less points on the envelope, the better. Hope that helps! Mark

I am no fan of the spline room. Here is how I would do it in the Vertex room.

 

Lets know if it's not clearly explained.

bwtr

I haven't done Mark's vertex tutorials yet so I'm trying to do this with splines (it's actually for the 'hood' of the light shade for a rr x-ing light signal that I've been modeling using the spline modeler for all the pieces). For the hood I already tried using a combination of the different spline modelers and then tried again after seeing Mark's response, but although closer now apparently I'm just not using the right sequence of points/movements. Will try again tonight after work. Thanks guys.

Paul

OK, I did it pretty well now. After I finish the x-ing signal with the spline method I'll try it again using the vertex modeler.

Looks good.  What I always have problems with are windshields for ground vehicles.  They always end up too round and too thin at the top.

Car windows are a perfect use of the Coons mesh creator in the Vertex Room. If you haven't played with it, give it a try. Pretty cool. :)

I hardly ever go into the vertex room except to clean up imported poser content.  I have just never been able to get the hang of the tools in there.  Almost everything I do is in the spline modeler.   I'll give it one last try I guess.