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I am trying to model a cake in blender, specifically, the "string of pearls" on a wedding cake. The curved line of pearls in this image:

Example cake

Using an array modifier and a few curve deforms, I have been able to create a single strand of pearls. The process I followed is this:

  1. Create a sphere for the pearl
  2. Create a bezier circle of the radius of the loop (Circle A)
  3. Create a bezier circle of the radius of the cake (Circle B)
  4. Give the pearl an array modifier and parent it to Circle A with a curve deformer.
  5. Parent the pearl to Circle B with another curve deformer.

That gives me this: Progress so far

Now if I try to add another array modifier, to the pearls, I get a new set of pearls above the cake and can't find a way to reposition it, or get them to follow the cake. If I add an array modifier to Circle B and parent it to Circle A, I get the circle going around the cake, but no pearls.

How can I duplicate this "loop" around the cake?

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I don't think you can succeed with your method, I would do it with a simpler way:

  • Create a circle arc, duplicate it in Edit mode, join the duplications, in Object mode apply the rotation, make it circular with a Simple Deform modifier (Bend mode, Angle 360°), apply the modifier and join the first and last vertices. You could have given your curve a Curve modifier instead, with a circle as Curve, maybe it's something you'd have prefered but the Simple Deform is easier in my opinion.

enter image description here

  • Make the curve snap to the surface of your cake.

enter image description here

  • Put the origin of the curve on one of its vertices, put the pearl on the exact same point, give your pearl an Array modifier.

enter image description here

  • With this method the pearls are deformed and it's particularly visible if the curve angle is too narrow. If you want to avoid that you could use Instancing: Don't use any modifiers, convert the curve to mesh, go in the Properties panel > Object > Instancing, click Verts, then parent the pearl to the curve (which is now a mesh), the pearl should appear on each vertex of the curve.
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  • $\begingroup$ Awesome, thank you so much! This looks like exactly what I need. One deviation I made was at the beginning instead of duplicating the curve, I used an array modifier linked to another curve around the cake, then converted it to a mesh (required to apply the modifier), joined the pieces, then converted back to a curve. This let me fine tune the scaling and positioning before duplicating.. $\endgroup$
    – Wige
    Oct 19, 2019 at 17:23
  • $\begingroup$ So, I am getting stuck on the final step, Put the origin of the curve on one of its vertices, put the pearl on the exact same point, give your pearl an Array modifier. How do I do this? I don't see an option to move the origin in edit mode, and I am not sure how I am linking the objects once I put the pearl in the same spot, am I just parenting it? $\endgroup$
    – Wige
    Oct 20, 2019 at 2:15
  • $\begingroup$ Select the curve vertex where you want the origin to be, press shift S > Cursor To Selected, then back in Object mode, go in the header menu > Object > Set Origin > Origin To 3D Cursor, then stay in Object mode, keep the 3D cursor where it is, select the pearl and again shift S > Selection To Cursor $\endgroup$
    – moonboots
    Oct 20, 2019 at 9:48
  • $\begingroup$ Ok, so I now have the pearl sitting on the vertex of the curve. How do I tell the pearl to follow the curve? Do I parent it? Parent it with curve deform? That is what I tried, but the pearls end up getting misshappen, especially at the peaks. I also tried leaving it unparented and setting it to use the curve as an offset. That was apparently wrong as well. $\endgroup$
    – Wige
    Oct 21, 2019 at 17:27
  • $\begingroup$ Yes with this method the pearls are deformed and it's particularly visible if the curve angle is too narrow. What you can do is keep a copy of the whole thing, then apply the modifiers, delete the deformed pearls and put some good ones at the same position. You could also use another method: Don't use any modifiers, convert the curve to mesh, go in the Properties panel > Object > Instancing, click Verts, then parent the pearl to the curve (which is now a mesh), the pearl should appear on each vertex of the curve. $\endgroup$
    – moonboots
    Oct 21, 2019 at 17:49

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