Select the object, navigate to Extensions > SketchyFFD or use the toolbar. Define Grid: Choose your cage size (e.g., 3x3x3).
Here’s a feature idea for the SketchUp plugin:
While other plugins exist (often paid), SketchyFFD is the classic free standard, known for stability and ease of use, according to mind.sight.studios. Conclusion sketchy ffd sketchup plugin
Create your basic shape and use a tool like SubD , Curviloft , or native splitting to subdivide the faces. Ensure the object is grouped. Step 2: Apply the Control Cage
Drag the control points in any direction. You will see the underlying group smoothly stretch, bend, and warp in real-time, following the influence of the cage. Step 4: Finalize the Mesh Select the object, navigate to Extensions > SketchyFFD
Easily create realistic tufting, curved sofa backs, sagging cushions, and draped tablecloths.
: As control points are shifted, the object deforms smoothly, making it ideal for creating organic, curved, or spiraling shapes (like helical springs or twisted columns). Variable Lattice Density Conclusion Create your basic shape and use a
Enter the group, select the control points, and use the ( ) to deform the shape. Practical Applications for Sketchy FFD 1. Architectural Design
: While your geometry needs divisions to bend, overloading your model with millions of polygons before using the plugin will cause severe lag. Find a balance, or use a low-poly proxy mesh and smooth it later.
takes a fundamentally different approach: instead of deforming an object interactively with control points, it asks you to select a target curve, and then it bends the object to follow that curve. This is ideal for creating paths, railings, or curved architectural elements with predictable outcomes. However, Shape Bender offers very little manual control once the deformation is applied. Sketchy FFD, by contrast, gives you complete freedom to push, pull, and tweak any region of the shape until it matches your creative vision.
Create a standard group or component. Do not try to deform raw geometry.