Ribbon path

Hello all,



I’m figuring out how to create a ribbon path similar to this:

Imageshack



So I know I need to do a custom mesh.

As it’s my first time doing this I’m a bit lost even after reading the documentation.



Also I get the impression that there is some other mesh I could build upon to do this or at least use as reference.

So I looked at the Cylinder shape and there are a lot of variables I don’t understand in the updateGeometry (this is where everything happens right? ):

  • 1. What are samples? There are axisSamples and radialSamples, how does this affect the shape?

  • 2. What is the logic behind creating the normals like this [java] int vertCount = axisSamples * (radialSamples + 1) + (closed ? 2 : 0);
    // Normals
    setBuffer(Type.Normal, 3, createVector3Buffer(getFloatBuffer(Type.Normal), vertCount));[/java]

  • 3. Where are createVector3Buffer() and createVector2Buffer() methods declared? I can't find it in Mesh or Cylinder and don't understand what they do.

  • 4. What is the math behind [java]int triCount = ((closed ? 2 : 0) + 2 * (axisSamples - 1)) * radialSamples;[/java]


I have more but I think is a lot already so I'll stop.

Thanks for any help.

1.Samples are the number of divisions to use for the mesh.

AxisSamples

http://creafab.free.fr/Tut_blender/Cigarette/Images/Cylindre_perspective.jpg



radial samples

http://forum.newworldgrid.com/file/n2747994/vertex.png



2. this is just creating the buffer for normals, the first line is just for counting the number of vertices.



3. Ctrl + left mouse button click would have been a faster way to get an answer on this one. I can’t check right now but from the look of it creates a VertexBuffer from a FloatBuffer.



4. I don’t really know what the “closed” boolean means but i guess you can toggle it on or off the have the cylinder closed at the top and at the bottom.

Then it’s just counting the faces.

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@nehon could you explain a little more the difference between radial and axis?



After some research I think the best way to make a ribbon path is using a NURB surface.

It seems a bit tricky to understand though. Could someone clarify:

5. How to build the knot vector.

6. For a very long line should I make several overlapping segments and then do GeometryBatchFactory over some or just a very long one?

7. Is there any good document that explains this concepts? I have read two (one by Philippe Lavoie and other by John Peterson) but still don’t really get it.

Sorry i inverted radial and axis in my last post

http://i.imgur.com/ulEUN.png

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