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I'm trying to model a scene with bone tissue, like in this pic: enter image description here

I've gotten this far, but I need those nice, rounded holes like in the pic above. enter image description here

I've ALMOST achieved this effect by going into edit mode, selecting the whole thing, and hitting "Smooth" in the Transform toolbar on the left a few times. But it deforms the part where the bones meet up with a space, as shown here: enter image description here

How do I get rid of those spaces and make the bones join up smoothly?

Edit: Also, here's the blend file for the first screen shot:

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  • $\begingroup$ Have you tried a subsurf modifier on img 1? $\endgroup$
    – Shady Puck
    Commented Aug 17, 2016 at 15:29
  • $\begingroup$ Just tried it, and I'm still coming up with the same issue. $\endgroup$
    – league
    Commented Aug 17, 2016 at 15:39
  • $\begingroup$ Can you upload the .blend for img 1? $\endgroup$
    – Shady Puck
    Commented Aug 17, 2016 at 15:41
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    $\begingroup$ You should sculpt some forms like these then duplicate them around and deform with lattice for variation. It would be the fastest and prettiest method and you would be done by now. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 17, 2016 at 16:58

2 Answers 2

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Check this blend here:

For geometry like this, I often use the Skin Modifier, because it can create these smooth branches automatically. But to use it, you need a mesh as a base, not a bunch of curves. So first, remove the curve profile from your geometry:

remove profile

Next, use Alt + C to convert the lines to a mesh geometry:

convert to mesh

In Edit mode, remove doubles, using a high threshold value, to merge as many vertices as possible while still maintaining the shape you created initially. I was using a merge distance of 0.1 for your scene:

remove doubles

next, add the skin modifier (can take a while until it is on there, and save your scene before):

add skin modifier

Finally, go to Edit Mode, and select all vertices, then hit Ctrl + A. This activates a modal operator, when you now drag the mouse you can scale the profile up and down. Scale down until the branch thickness is what you like, and then add a Subsurf Modifier to smooth out the skinned mesh:

result

You can scale each point individually using the shortcut I mentioned before, so variation can be created easily. You might however get some areas with artifacts. Sometimes, marking a different vertex as the root can resolve or at least improve it:

mark root

Now play with the thickness:

thicker skin

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  • $\begingroup$ How do I control merge distance when removing the doubles? I click the "remove doubles" button and it does its magic without giving me any options. If I say "okay Blender, have it your way..." and continue on though your instructions to add a skin modifier, it adds a bunch of faces on only one voronoi hole. $\endgroup$
    – league
    Commented Aug 17, 2016 at 16:29
  • $\begingroup$ @League14 You can hit F6 RIGHT AFTER running any operator to get the options, or look in the so-called 'last operator panel' in the Tool Shelf on the left. $\endgroup$
    – aliasguru
    Commented Aug 17, 2016 at 16:31
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Here's an alternative and easy way, based solely on modifiers: Start with a simple cube. Add a subD modifier, and give it 5 iterations to create a cubic sphere. Next, apply a Cast modifier to make it perfectly round (just use default settings). Then add a Decimate modifier using the Planar option, and give it 3 iterations (based on the 5 iterations of your previous SubD modifier). Change the Angle Limit to 20, check ALL BOUNDARIES (very important), and make sure Delimit is set to Normal.

At this stage, with all the modifiers in the stack, your cube should appear to be a Voronoi sphere (or roughly spherical in shape). Add another Cast modifier with default settings just to get it as spherical as it can with the given edges currently on the object. Now add a Wireframe modifier. Set thickness to 0.1 or so. Finally, add another SubD modifier and give it a couple iterations until you're happy with the results. Done.

enter image description here

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