Lofting Basics & Process by Alex Hogrefe

 This model has a fantastic design, this is because of the curves geometric. The software Sketchup is not appropriate an organic modelling. Rhino is a better software to create these type of curves because it continues on NURBS based modeling instead of mesh which allows for more coordination and management of complicated geometry. 

 Process

Sometimes people based there design on the limitation of the software. In my opinion that's something that annoys me because it's better to create a design that you desire. First you can sketch on the software that don't have the appropriate tools and then use something vast as software to create a great design.

Before model making, designer start sketching the ideas on papers. The designer found out that sketchup and Rhino are really similar to each other so he preferred using them both.

Sketchup take much more time to make curves and so he could emphases more on testing and develop new ideas and structures instead of sketching on paper. Above, are the designer's sketches. He produces many type of sketching, so he could designing and developing new forms. If you can see Alex manipulated every form, so he could find the right design.  Sketches it only takes seconds but modelling takes hours. The one below is a massing model and it is used to analyze basic forms and ideas. He used a plan and section to give her a great basic volume information from which he could continue developing.

 He was focusing on

·        Where and how the shadows are going to show.

·        How to design the land around the building

·        And if the form would be strong enough for my concept and accomplishment 

Alex said that once he has a great base to begin with he could continue modelling easily now. He began with "the curves and softening the transition". he said that he tested plugins and he seem to have a problem, the problem was that they where really unstable. If they were not used right the model would crash. The list of plugins that the designer found best to work with are  the FREDO Tools and more particularly the Curviloft plugin.

For this 3D model, he used the “loft by spline”, and sometimes he has used “loft along path” and “skinning” in previous models.

Process start :

1.     " Taking line work off of my base massing model

2.     using the Arc tool to soften the corners

3.     leaving me with smooth line work to loft."

Once there are loads of lines prepared to loft, He starts  the Curviloft plugin.

1.     "I choose the first spline curve,

2.     then I choose the second spline curve, 

3.     and then hit the check mark twice to complete the process."

The plugin job is to soften the surface among the two spline curves. The plugin are great to use because they are really fixed and can be used inside of groups.

 The more you have splines the more complex the geometric model be and the plugin handle it more easily.

 For the final think is to clean up and erase any unneeded line. by this you have to hide the line work.

Underneath we are seeing one with hidden geometric on and the other with it off. Which one looks better?

You can see more clearly the geometric design and this is how a model should be produced.  

  

  If familiar with Rhino, 3DS, Maya, etc, you know lofting is an important tool when doing this type of design. However, In Sketchup it's not that familiar with it and that's why sketch up is losing its population.

These are some fine sketches of the final product.