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Help With Profile Graphs in ZScripts?

ZBrush Artworks
#1

Perhaps one of the ZScript experts can help me out. :slight_smile:

I was writing a randomized gear script, but ran into a roadblock with writing a routine for generating random profiles.

The main thing is, I can’t figure out how to specify that these points are to have sharp corners rather than smooth curves. Plus I’m not entirely sure of the proper formatting to script a profile curve.

As a result, my gears are looking more like flowers. :slight_smile: Which would be fine if I wanted a screen full of flowers. :smiley:

Here’s a code snippet:

[varSet,Y1,rand(100)]
[varSet,Y2,rand(100)]
[varSet,Y3,rand(100)]
[varSet,Y4,rand(100)]
[varSet,Y5,rand(100)]

[varSet,Y6,rand(100)]
[varSet,Y7,rand(100)]
[varSet,Y8,rand(100)]
[varSet,Y9,rand(100)]
[varSet,Y10,rand(100)]

// Specify the points in the profile.
[IClick,TOOL:MODIFIERS:INITIALIZE:Outer Profile,0,Y1,0,Y1]
[IClick,TOOL:MODIFIERS:INITIALIZE:Outer Profile,25,Y2,25,Y2]
[IClick,TOOL:MODIFIERS:INITIALIZE:Outer Profile,50,Y3,50,Y3]
[IClick,TOOL:MODIFIERS:INITIALIZE:Outer Profile,75,Y4,75,Y4]
[IClick,TOOL:MODIFIERS:INITIALIZE:Outer Profile,100,Y5,100,Y5]

// Specify the points in the outer
// cross-section of the gear.
[IClick,TOOL:MODIFIERS:INITIALIZE:Outer Section,0,Y6,0,Y6]
[IClick,TOOL:MODIFIERS:INITIALIZE:Outer Section,25,Y7,25,Y7]
[IClick,TOOL:MODIFIERS:INITIALIZE:Outer Section,50,Y8,50,Y8]
[IClick,TOOL:MODIFIERS:INITIALIZE:Outer Section,75,Y9,75,Y9]
[IClick,TOOL:MODIFIERS:INITIALIZE:Outer Section,100,Y10,100,Y10]

Maybe someone out their would know a better way of scripting Profile Graphs? I couldn’t find anything about it in the Zscript commands reference.

#2

Good question, WingedOne.

When working with ZGraphs by hand – to turn curve points into corner points, you drag them off the ZGraph and back on again.

In a ZScript context, you do the same thing. For example (from your ZScript, above):

[IClick,TOOL:MODIFIERS:INITIALIZE:Outer Profile,50,Y3,50,Y3] creates a curve point. To make it a corner point, add a point that’s not on the ZGraph, say, -20,-20. So it would read:

[IClick,TOOL:MODIFIERS:INITIALIZE:Outer Profile,50,Y3,-20,-20,50,Y3]

Have fun!
dave

#3

Thanks Davey!

Another quick question:

Is there a way for a ZScript to get information about what points are currently in a Profile Graph and to remove them? Or just to remove all the points even without getting the information from the Profile Graph?

#4

I’d have to say no. There’s no way to read the points from a ZGraph via ZScript.

Here are the other options you have:

You can reset all materials to their default state: [IReset,5]. That way you know where you’re starting from.

You can read points’ positions by hand; open the Transform:Info sub-palette, click on a point in a ZGraph, and the first two Info sliders will tell you the point’s position (let’s call 'em xx,yy). Then, in a ZScript, you can [IClick,xx,yy,new xx, new yy] to move it.

And hey – you didn’t ask, but here’s a tip on using [IReset…]: you know that dialog box that pops up when you do an [IReset]? You can suppress it by placing it inside an [IKeyPress…] command.

Here’s what an [IReset] looks like without giving the user an opportunity to confirm:

[IKeyPress,13,[IReset,5]]

This would of course reset all materials. Be careful, this’ll wipe out all customized materials without warning.

Have fun,
dave

#5

Thanks Davey. :slight_smile: The information will come in handy. :+1: