Using Clothworks (or other extensions) to create distorted grid images

[benoldays]

Hi @Box,

I love you work. You’re an inspiration.

I have a question I hope you can help me with.

I’m trying to make a series of distorted grid images that will be the base of some art work I am working on.
The attached Illustrator image shows what I’m trying to achieve, its like a ball under a patchwork blanket.
Basically I would like a method I can use in Sketchup where I can put any shape under the blanket and have the grid distort appropriately.

It would be cool if it could work with different grid types (triangle, hexagon, etc).
It doesn’t have to be perfect curved lines, as it will be used as a template to get the correct depth and line spacing.

Is this something you or anyone else could help me with?

Thanks all.

[Box]

You might want to look at Clothworks.

[benoldays]

Cool, I have that but haven’t had the time to play with it yet.
I’m not 100% sure it will be what I need though.
I guess a more accurate description is sheet of rubber rather than a blanket.
The distortion of the grid through stretching is quite important.

Any ideas to get the grid to warp?

[Anssi]

How about trying the Smoove tool (in the Sandbox tools) first?

[Forestr]

With Artisan Organic Toolset:

Make a box with segmented edges:

Make a grid:

Select center edges, use vertex scale (hold option to toggle about center)

[DaveR]

@benoldays

I guess a more accurate description is sheet of rubber rather than a blanket.

You could just change the material to rubber in Clothworks.

[Box]

@TheOnlyAaron or @SketchUp_Moderator could you split this off into it’s own topic, it’s not really appropriate here and more people could respond to it as it’s own thread.

[Box]

I said have you tried Clothworks, not this is how to do it with clothworks. As @DaveR mentions, there are many settings in clothworks.

Here’s one result using a grid and dragging the pins.

You need to remember that SU uses straight edges to make everything so I think you’ll struggle to get the exact distortion you want with SU.

[benoldays]

Wow, that’s exactly what I was going for.
Will delve into it in the coming days.

Thanks for your help all.

[Box]

Done with a little more care.

[benoldays]

Thats perfect.