Gem on Curve
Learn how to apply Gem on a Curve to create a beautiful flowing array of gemstones
Begin with a flowing line created by Interp Curve; then, under the Gems menu, apply
the curve to the Gem on Curve tool. Add to the model with Under Bezel Builder and
Prong Placer for a lovely pendant design.
Icon Key :
1. Interp Curve
Under the Curves fly-out menu, choose Interp Curve, and in the Looking Down view, draw a flowing curve. Be sure to Job Bag this curve before going any further!
2. Gem on Curve
From there, select the Gem on Curve tool in the Gems fly-out menu. Insert the curve into the Curve box and gems will immediately appear on the curve in the viewports. Your first step is to assign the gem culet direction in the command line. You can point the gem culets Down or toward F4 or toward dan Object that you assign. Select Down.
3. Create Primitive Shapes
In the Looking Down view, you can adjust the Start and End positions of your gems, as well as their size and spacing. As you make adjustments, a status box gives real-time feedback about your gem size, count, and total weight.
4. Tapered Gems
You also have the option to Taper the flow of gems from small to large by clicking on the option in the Command line. VCH controls appear for each end. Adjust to your preferences and hit Enter to set gems. Don’t forget to Job Bag it!
5. Prong Builder
The next step is to plug your gems into the Prong Builder, found under the Gems fly-out menu. These gems are “grouped” so when you click on one gem, all become selected. Place gems into the builder and select your Mode. In this demo, select 2 Shared Prongs.
Prongs will appear in your viewport with VCH to assign your preferences. Adjust Height, Width, Angle, and Nudge distance. You can also determine the Fillet – or roundness of your prongs. When you are finished, press Enter to set prongs. Job Bag it!
6. Breaking up is hard to do
Now you need to design your Under Bezels. Your first step is to Un- Group these gems as the builder only allows one gem at a time. Click on a gem to select the group and in the Utilities menu, click on Un-Group.
7. Bezel Builder
With an array of different-sized gems that will share similar settings through Match Attributes, it is best, to begin with the smallest gem when using Bezel Builder. Import the gem and begin with the Bezel Mode; then
adjust your settings using the VCH. For this demo, the angle should be set at 0 so that the bezel is parallel to the prongs. When using the VCH for angle, you can move in 5-degree increments by holding down the Shift
key for greater control.
8. Under Bezel Mode
When your settings have been determined, switch to the Under Bezel Mode. You may need to adjust the bezel height slightly, then press Enter to complete.
9. Match Attributes
Now, select the remaining gems in the viewport and press F6. Choose Match Attributes and select the smallest gem when prompted for “Object to Take Style Sheets From.” Job Bag this stage of completion.
10. Using History
History functionality MUST be utilized before “trimming” the bezels in the next step with Boolean Builder. Select a gem, press F6, and use MSR to change its position. Underbezels and prongs will follow. After you run a Boolean, Split, Trim, or Join function on a model, History will no longer keep up. Of course, if you do Trim bezels and then realize you didn’t Job Bag but need to make changes with History (tsk, tsk!), you may delete the trimmed bezels and run Match Attributes between the gem and itself to get back the bezel before Booleans.
11. Trim Bezels
Because of the percentages applied to the prongs as they transition from small to large gems, it will be necessary to trim them so they are completely flush with the bezels. This will be accomplished by creating a cutter and using Boolean Difference.
Before accomplishing that, however, you will need to adjust the bezels on the smaller stones to ensure they are the same height as the largest gem’s bezel. Select a bezel and press F6. Select “Edit Bezel” to get controls back for this bezel, and edit the Bezel Height VCH or Builder Menu slider. Job Bag at this stage!
Now you need to create a cutter to finish the piece. Under the Cutters menu, choose the Plane & Cube Cutter tool. Select the “– Z Half Cube Cutter” icon in the menu on the left and it will create a large, solid cube just below the Z plane in your viewports. Click on the cube and position it just below the bezels.
Then open the Boolean Builder and input the rectangle into the Cutter box. Right-click on the Heads layer color to select the bezels and prongs and place them in the Objects box. Make sure One by One is on and Keep Cutters is off. Then click Do Boolean. Job Bag it!
12. Prong Editor
As you review your finished pendant, if you want to make any changes to the placement of individual prongs, you must first Un-Group the prongs just as you did the gems.
Select one prong at a time and input it into the Prong Editor tool found in the Settings Menu. The prong editor options & controls are the same as in Prong Placer, but they only work on 1 prong at a time, so that you may adjust its “Angle” (the one extra control) around the gem, rotating it around the center of the gem. Press enter when you are done adjusting the Prong, and input another prong you wish to edit, editing them one at a time.
Again, when you are finished, Job
Bag your piece and you are done!
Render it ....!!
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