topic Re: How to curve an object in Modeling

How to curve an object

cocoloco — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 22:51:29 GMT

hi!! I am modeling some custom products and wondering how to curve a slab? I am trying to accomplish what's highlighted in pink - I want the leaf not standing flat/straight as is but to be slightly curved. I think I tried over everything and I can't find anything that would anyhow accomplish the result.... archicad would be able to do this right?

I also wanted the edges (depth of the leaf) to be not straight as is but full bullnose - I found "fillet" setting but it is bullnosing different angle/parts... is there some setting to choose better what needs to be exactly bullnosed?

Any help please ? (built through slabs) .

Re: How to curve an object

Eduardo Rolon — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 23:29:36 GMT

For those you need to use the Shell Tool not slabs.

Re: How to curve an object

cocoloco — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 23:36:06 GMT

Sighhhhhh , another tool 😣 Ok ill try it once again with shell tool and give update

Re: How to curve an object

Eduardo Rolon — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 23:53:39 GMT

Different tools for different purposes.

What would the answer be to someone that asks the same thing but wants to use a Line instead of a Slab and then sighs? 🤔

Why have a Dimension tool, or Labels. Circles are not needed, nor Elevation tools. Schedules and Indexes can be thrown away too and since I can draw everything by hand why do I need to learn a program…😉

Re: How to curve an object

cocoloco — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 00:28:43 GMT

Sorryyyy 🙂 I imagined there is universal tool that can bend whether slabs/roof/whatever I build by the general tools. Instead of only shelf has a bending tool if it makes sense.

this being said I am going to test it. Thanks!!! ♥️♥️♥️

Re: How to curve an object

Lingwisyer — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 01:13:58 GMT

Time to learn to use Max or zBrush?

Re: How to curve an object

cocoloco — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 02:05:59 GMT

Is either part of archicad? I pay big money for architectural tool like archicad so i can’t pay for another tool. curves and bending is used in architecture unless you build boxed only. Why should I be now looking for another tool if this should already be provided. Are you saying that Bending a wall is not archicads tool? What about Zaha Hadid - did she had to work in zbrush when building her curvy gorgeous architecture?😪

someone recommended using shell tool since that tool apparently bends. So I will try that.

Re: How to curve an object

Barry Kelly — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 02:53:59 GMT

@cocoloco wrote:

What about Zaha Hadid - did she had to work in zbrush when building her curvy gorgeous architecture?😪

Not zBrush, but it seems she didn't use Archicad.

Not sure how true this is ...

Unfortunately Archicad was never designed to create 'bendy/curvy structures.

We have had the shell tool for a while now, and it is OK for some things.

The trick is to make the bendy form and then cut the perimeter to form the shape you want.

It is not so good for double curve in opposing directions.

So your bendy/wavy leaf with a perimeter cut in a leaf shape can be done,

But if you now wanted to cup that leaf (bend the sides in), that would not be possible - maybe if you convert to a morph, but even then tricky.

I think it only has a 'bulge' option.

The morph tool will allow you to create any (most) free-form shapes, but I would not say it is easy to use.

Most people find it easier to create these curvy structures in other software, that has the tools to do this.

But I agree with you, why would I want another expensive software I might hardly ever use?

Maybe something free like Blender?

Of course you will have to learn to use the different software if you are not familiar with it.

Barry.

Re: How to curve an object

cocoloco — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 03:17:36 GMT

Hi Baryyy! Thank you for the review on her. I’m surprised there is revit! Learning more and more in archicad it is (surprisingly-and shockingly) clear to me that archicad just doesn’t like curves and round builds! But I don’t know why, to me it obviously had the potential to do so? Also they don’t advertise it as straight architecture only (lol).

Thank you also for the feedback about the morph - I will try to play with it (but I already can imagine how it would go :D) I’m not ready to learn a new software because all I need is this one leaf, not a whole project or multiproject scope. Its a bummer 😞 maybe I find someone who can use these softwares and create it for me.

I first thought that @Lingwisyer was joking but now I see he meant good and I actually appreciate The straighforward feedback . But yeah because of leaf I am not going to spend another 5 years of learning another software I finally learnt to make nice holes in archicad walls lol 😪😂

Re: How to curve an object

Lingwisyer — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 04:18:16 GMT

Yeah, if you are planning to do a lot of projects with flowy forms in AC, it would be a good idea to pickup Rhino - Grasshopper. It is another subscription though and quite a different process... If you look around there are quite a number of videos utilising the AC-Grasshopper connection to create dynamic flowing forms. We do not do that many things of that type so I usually get by utilising a combination of Shells, Morphs and SEOs.

zBrush is a scupting program, so I brought it up as it looked like you were trying to scuplt an art installation. Probably some way to get a zBrush model into AC, probably via 3DS.

Max is the standard 3D modelling package within the Autodesk Suite and where I figure a lot of furniture objects originate from. It is also part of a lot of top end visualisation pipelines.

Ling.

Re: How to curve an object

cocoloco — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 04:53:00 GMT

Thank you! My colleagues utilize 3Ds max (is this what you meant?) if so, then that I’d great as I can ask them, save the object in archicad file and re use. Unfortunately not edit as I am not familiar with gdl language if that would be even possíble.

May I ask last question? I have the leaf but there is also one more shape I’m now worried about. 😁 Do you think I could accomplish this look (top) in archicad “easily” or is it similar case as the leaf?
(The “ top” means top view of the detail on lid). it is sort of spiral but part of the slab would be high and part would be low as it turns into inside. ) the candle vessel is inspiration as it shows low and high wall/slab which is my concern.

I know this is not traditional interior project buuut I hope I could still develop these here :((

Re: How to curve an object

Barry Kelly — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 05:53:07 GMT

Spirals are another thing Archicad can't really do.

You would have to create your own from short straight or curved walls.

If straight wall, the shorter they are the curvier the spiral will be.

Curved walls can be longer but watch the joining angles (flow) between the wall.

You can see in the image below where it is not smooth as I was not very careful.

Then I would place a curved stair over it and use Solid Element Operation to 'subtract with upward extrusion'.

Then hide stair layer or convert walls into morphs.

Barry.

Re: How to curve an object

Lingwisyer — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 07:40:04 GMT

I would probably just make the spiral with a wall, then SEO the top off using a roof or the spiral ramp object, or even easier as Barry has shown, a stair. To make the spiral I would magic wand a Spline.