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[edit] Implicit Skeleton

[edit] About

Name Implicit Skeleton Version 0.1
This script creates something like triangular metaballs. License GPL
Menu Opens with Text Editor Blender 2.42a - 2.48
Author Andy Houston (serendipiti)
Link(s) (original link) dead: //members.aol.com/demalion2/implicit.html
Executable: implicitGUI.py Modules:
Data: External Dependencies: implicit.py,
Additional information: Best to run in implicitskeleton.blend
  • Also in the Add Menu Toolkit
Links Wiki: updated version in rar-archive on blenderWiki -

[edit] Introduction

Implicit Skeleton

  • This script creates something like triangular metaballs.
  • If you create a low poly model in Blender
  • select it and run the script.
  • it will create a mesh based on the faces of the original mesh.
  • hence "implicit skeleton".
  • Be careful using this script, as it is slow & may cause crashes.
  • It is best to open the scrpt in the provided .blend.
  • The script is not limited to the default meshes, use any mesh you like.
  • More in the Instructions..


[edit] Instructions

Interface/Menu Overview

  • Features: Sliders, Numeric Input, Buttons, re sizable interface.
  • X min Bounding box X Minimum
  • X max Bounding box X Maximum
  • X res Bounding box X Resoloution (lower is quicker)
  • Y min Bounding box Y Minimum
  • Y max Bounding box Y Maximum
  • Y res Bounding box Y Resoloution (lower is quicker)
  • Z min Bounding box Z Minimum
  • Z max Bounding box Z Maximum
  • Z res Bounding box Z Resoloution (lower is quicker)
  • Threshold Blobbyness level, Lower is blobbier.
  • Strength Higher Values are closer to the underlying triangle.
  • Approximate Quicker Conversion, low quality surface.
  • Exact Slower (much) Conversion. high quality surface.
  • Convert Execute or Run the script
  • Exit End Script.


Using Implicit Skeleton

  • Download the script & open implicitskeleton.blend.
  • In the text editor press Alt/P & the Menu will appear.
  • Create a simple Low Poly mesh.
  • Or test out the Provided Low Poly Meshes.
  • Select the low poly mesh.
  • Run the script to see the results.
  • Experiment with the different settings in the Script Menu.
  • To add multiple Implicit Skeletons to the same scene.
  • You can Shift/D Duplicate in Blender.
  • Keep settings low.
  • This script may cause crashes if settings are too high.
  • work in progess...


[edit] Known Issues


from Andy Houston

  • The output mesh triangles are separate. You have to do a remove doubles operation.
  • Doesn't work with Blender's native metaballs (and never will).
  • Can't control the parameters of each face in the skeleton mesh, one size fits all.
  • Only one skeleton mesh at a time.

It is VERY SLOW at the moment, but seems to be fairly stable. It is also very far from being a useful modelling tool, but I hope to improve the speed and quality of the mesh. Currently, all the script does is convert the Blender mesh into a blobby, inflated facsimile of itself.

[edit] Notes


The actual underlying implicit algorithm is from Andrei Sherstyuk's Ph.D thesis "Convolution Surfaces in Computer Graphics", webpage here and the marching tetrahedrons polygoniser is an adaptation of J M Soler's polygonize.py, webpage here. JMS has a wealth of other useful tutorials and info for beginners and experts alike.

[edit] Additional Information


  • In the Wiki writer's opinion always have Python Installed on your computer when using scripts. http://www.python.org/

[edit] Support


[edit] Credits


Thanks go to:

  • Andy Houston (serendipiti) for the script & help.