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I am trying to wrap a "metal bar" partially around a rough surface like a statue. How do I do this?

  • I created a "metal bar" by adding a cylinder object and scaled and positioned it to the right size
  • I added subdivisions to the "metal bar" so it can bend

this is how far I got.

I think the shrinkwrap modifier is a good way of achieving this, but it does not work as I had imagined. I want the bar to stay in the x-axis plane, this can be achieved with mode 'project' in shrinkwrap and selecting the x-axis I believe but for some reason it does not project onto my statue, the bar just stays a straight bar in front of the statue. and it should stay a bar (for some reason shrinkwrap flattens the bar like it's clay or paper when I select a different mode in shrinkwrap)

I also want the bar to behave like a semi sturdy metal bar or wire, moldable but not stuck in every corner of a dent in the statue and lay on top of the surface.

I can't get it done, please help.

here to download the stl file: https://gofile.io/d/Zbr3ff

below screenshots

pic 1

enter image description here

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1 Answer 1

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I would bevel a curve to give it thickness, and have easy control over the curve shape.

  1. Make a curve circle and put it in place. In your case: Shift + c. Shift + a and choose Curve > Circle. Then S 1 4 Enter. Then G Z 2 0 Enter.

  2. Put a Shrinkwrap modifier on the curve and target the knight. Mode: Project, On Surface. Direction: Negative (only)

  3. Press Alt + C and choose Mesh from Curve/Meta/Surf/text. Then press Alt + C again but now choose Curve from Mesh/Text. Changing the curve to a mesh and then the mesh back to a curve Applies the modifier and gives us more vertices on the curve.

  4. In Edit Mode A to select all. then hit F3 (default search key) and type "Set Spline Type" and choose Bezier. Then hit F3 again and type "Set Handle Type" (or press V) and choose Aligned.

(Alternatively you can click on the buttons next to Edit Mode in the header of the 3D Viewport. Curve > Set Spline Type > Bezier. and Control Points > Set Handle Type > Aligned.)

  1. In Object Mode Scale the curve a bit bigger, 1.05 times seems suitable. Then go to Properties > Object Data Properties > Geometry > Bevel, and set the Depth Value to 0.03 m (and maybe increase the Resolution value).

enter image description here

  1. Fine tuning:

Decimate Curve to decrees the amount of vertices. Subdivide to increase them if needed. (Both also easily found by hitting F3 in Edit Mode).

Select vertices and press X or Del and choose Segments if you want an opening in the bar curve.

And of course move the vertices around to get the exact desired shape of the bar. : )

Press Alt + C and choose Mesh from Curve/Meta/Surf/text, if you want a mesh bar in the end.

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  • $\begingroup$ I can't find "Set Spline Type" in F3 search, I am in edit mode and pressed "A" to select all. I am new to blender, do I need a special add on? $\endgroup$
    – user1557314
    Commented Jul 26, 2020 at 11:16
  • $\begingroup$ That is weird. Not sure why that doesn't work. Alternatively you can click on one of the buttons next to Edit Mode in the header of the 3D Viewport. The one that says Curve. In the drop down menu you should also be able to find Set Spline Type. (I'll edit it to my answer.) $\endgroup$
    – Fjoersteller
    Commented Jul 26, 2020 at 14:28
  • $\begingroup$ there is no button that says "Curve", only View, Select, Add, Mesh, Vertex, Edge, Face and UV. I think I need to install an add on. I am using blender 2.83.2 $\endgroup$
    – user1557314
    Commented Jul 26, 2020 at 14:53
  • $\begingroup$ Ah i think get i now : ) I think you have a Mesh circle, but you need a Curve circle. Point 3 in my answer might be a little confusing. It says to covert a curve to a mesh, and then convert the mesh back to a curve again. So at point 4 it should be a curve. I'll edit my answer to be a little more clear. $\endgroup$
    – Fjoersteller
    Commented Jul 26, 2020 at 15:11
  • $\begingroup$ thank you so much man! really helpful and great explanation I did however do something wrong; how do you scale the curve to 1.05? I scaled the curve from 14 to 1.05 in object properties (XYZ Euler). I believe I made a small mistake there so I left it to 14 instead $\endgroup$
    – user1557314
    Commented Jul 26, 2020 at 21:22

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