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<FONT FACE="Verdana"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>I just downloaded the latest build for OS X 10.3, and I love the new additions. Great new modelling tools, and the curve taper option really excites me. I’ve started work on a new tree generator (better than L-system) based on research by Jason Weber (Teletronics International) and Joseph Penn (Army Research). I started out approaching it with polys which can get complex and slow very quickly. When I saw the new curve taper features I got excited about the control offered where it was lacking before. Unfortunately the new features bring it so close it’s painful, but still just out of reach. First the api needs to be extended to include the new options (don’t know if that’s in place or not). My problem is that when I make a separate curve for the trunk, and several branches, each of the branches start with the initial diameter of the base of the trunk. This is a major problem because the only solution I can figure out is to make many branch groups each with different taper curves...this is incredibly inefficient. Is there another way with python I can influence the skinning of the curves, or would this require a new feature. Curves would be so much more powerful for tree/plant generation, but unless there’s a workaround, I’ll have to go back to scripting with polys which offer less control, slower, and more work. Perhaps the ability to assign tapers according to curve segments instead of objects, or letting curve length influence the diameter, or something similar would give that control.<BR>
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You guys are awesome,<BR>
Bydesign</SPAN></FONT>
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