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Shape Check Utility 265
Initial text shape with ex tr uded sha p e b elow
Lathed object with initial s hap e on right
Lof ti ng S ha pes
Yo u c r e a t e Lofts (page 1–352) by combining two
or more splines in special wa ys. Shapes form the
lofting path, loft cross-sections, and loft fit curves.
Shapes as Animation Paths
You can use shapes to define the position of an
animated object. You create a shape and use it to
define a path that some other object follows.
Some possible ways for a shape to control animated
position are:
•YoucanuseaPath constraint (page 2–398) to
use a shape to control object motion.
• You can convert a shape into position keys using
the Motion panel > Trajectories > Convert
From function (see Trajectories (page 2–301)).
See also
Edit Modifiers and Editable Ob jects (page 1–506)
Modifying at the Sub-Object Level (page 1–506)
Modifier Stack Controls (page 3–760)
Shape Check Utility
Utilities panel > Util ities rollout > More button U tilities
dialog > Shape Ch eck
The Shape Check utilit y tests spline and
NURBS-based shapes and curves for
self-intersection and graphically displays
any instances of intersecting segments.
Self-intersecting shapes used to produce lathed,
extruded, lofted, or other 3D objects can result in
rendering errors.
The utility is "sticky" in that once you’ve picked
a shape object for it to check, you c a n pan/zo om
view ports and it will continually display the
locations of intersecting curves in the shape you
pick.
If a shape is animated, moving the time slider will
recheck the shape on each frame of the animation,
allowing for easy checking of these changing
shapes.