Lets you apply a free deformation to an object.
This deformation is applied with the help of a lattice defining a parallelepipedal space volume that can be freely deformed working on a user-defined number of control points.
How to use
1. Click the Lattice icon or choose the Tools > Transform > Deformation > Lattice menu command.
2. The program console prompts Pick object to deform.
3. Pick the object you want to freely deform. A copy of the object is created. The original object is hidden but not deleted. In fact, you will find it in Hierarchy Browser hidden from both rendering and views.
4. Choose the Edit mode.
5. A lattice is displayed around the selected object. At this point you can pick any point defining the lattice and drag it to deform the original object.
Note: Before applying the lattice deformation to an object, you should remember that the object capability of being deformed depends on how the control points are distributed over its surface. The more the control points of the object, the more the control over shape and the precision of the deformation.
Options
Object
To change the object you want to freely deform.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on and pick another curve or object in the scene.
Control points
To modify XYZ coordinates of lattice control points.
Views. Choose the Edit mode. Click the point/points whose position you want to modify and drag it/them. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Select the point from the scroll list that appears when you click the [ . . . ] button. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields and confirm them by pressing Enter.
Origin
To modify XYZ coordinates of lattice origin.
Views. Choose the Edit mode. Click and drag the Origin hotSpot. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Select the point from the scroll list that appears when you click the [ . . . ] button. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields and confirm them by pressing Enter.
Orientation
To define XYZ rotation values of the lattice axes as regards to the world coordinate system.
Views. Pick the X, Y, and Z hotSpots and drag.
Modeling Tool panel. Input X, Y, and Z rotation angles (in degrees) in their respective fields.
Width
To define the width of the lattice.
Views. Choose the Edit mode. Click the X dim. hotSpot that is displayed at the end of the X axis and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired dimension.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the numerical value in the field.
Thickness
To define the thickness of the lattice.
Views. Choose the Edit mode. Click the Y dim. hotSpot that is displayed at the end of the Y axis and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired dimension.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the numerical value in the field.
Height
To define the height of the lattice.
Views. Choose the Edit mode. Click the Z dim. hotSpot that is displayed at the end of the Z axis and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired dimension.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the numerical value in the field.
Points along X
Points along Y
Points along Z
To define the number of control points of the lattice along X, Y, or Z.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter.
Order along X
Order along Y
Order along Z
To change the lattice order along X, Y, or Z.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter. The order values should never be higher than the number of control points.
Attach lattice
Detach lattice
To define whether the lattice must be linked or not to the object.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on:
Attach lattice, if you want the lattice to follow the object when you move it. Not enabled in this version.
Detach lattice, if you prefer for the lattice to remain independent from the object. In this case, when the object goes out from the lattice, deformations are lost.
Fit to b.box
To make the lattice fit the object's bounding box.
Modeling Tool panel. Just press the button to see the lattice coincide with the bounding box of the object.
Reset lattice
To reset any change made to the lattice and bring it back to the original status.
Modeling Tool panel. Just press the button.