Autodesk T-Splines Plug-in for Rhino v3.3 info

[Matt Sederberg]

Autodesk T-Splines Plug-in for Rhino v3.3 is now available.

If you already own a T-Splines v3 license, this is a free upgrade. You can download the update here.

You can learn more about the new and improved features of this version in the Help file inside Autodesk T-Splines Plug-in for Rhino, or on our new basic videos page, which has over 50 new videos explaining how to use T-Splines commands. Here are the highlights:

New features
tsRetopo will snap T-Splines control points to the closest mesh or polysurface in the scene, in the following commands: append, extrude, insert edge, insert point, subdivide face, bevel, and slide edges.
tsBevel Replaces selected edges with a channel of faces.
tsSlide Slides selected edges along neighboring edges
New selection commands: Select next loop, previous loop, Next U, Next V
tsUVEditor lets you edit the UV layout of textures applied to T-Splines and T-Spline render meshes.
tsExtractEdges: Extracts the selected edges from the T-Splines surface. Similar to the Rhino ExtractIsocurve command.

Improved features
tsAppend is greatly improved with new options and behavior
tsInsertEdge has a new option to let you specify an exact distance (along the control polygon) where the new edge will be inserted.
tsEditMode SetPivot now allows you to set the orientation of the manipulator along with its position
T-splines now work with Rhino’s CageEdit command
tsSkin has been completely rewritten
tsLoft has been completely rewritten
tSEditMode Heads-Up Display (HUD) now shows more icons and is docked by default.
The old v2 transluscent box HUD has been updated to work with new v3 items and is now called Text Viewport HUD.
When tsExtruding a face or an edge, you no longer need to undo twice to undo the movement and the extrusion. Just undo once! Note: when you extrude a curve, you will need to still undo twice.
tsSymmetry has more clear command line prompts
tsInsertPoint has more consistent selection
tsPipe has new diamond joints
tsPull now properly moves tangency handles when it moves vertices
tsBridge now has the proper handles to let you change the twist and direction of the bridge

[CarterTG]

Matt,
Can you clarify for us ol' timers on whether we need to register at Autodesk when installing the upgrade? Wasn't sure if there was some sort of relocation of the license server.

IOW, for those of us who already have an earlier T-Splines install, this'll be a straightforward download, install & continued merry T-Splining with automagic license-checking?

Thanks
Carter

[Xenophya]

"T-splines now work with Rhino’s CageEdit command"

Absolutely bloody brilliant!!!!

[Neil]

Will you be updating the manual with the new functionality?

[Xenophya]

Hello again,

Hmmm just tried actually using the Cage edit tool on a tsplines model but when I try to move a control point it says "t-splines was converted to rhino object by the tsEditMode Command" Am I doing something wrong?

Cheers
Mark

[tommsen]

cage edit also does not work for me.
i used a tspline box with the newest rhino564 bit
best

[Matt Sederberg]

Matt,
Can you clarify for us ol' timers on whether we need to register at Autodesk when installing the upgrade? Wasn't sure if there was some sort of relocation of the license server.

IOW, for those of us who already have an earlier T-Splines install, this'll be a straightforward download, install & continued merry T-Splining with automagic license-checking?

Thanks
Carter

Hi Carter,

If you already have T-Splines v3, you don't need to go to the Autodesk site at all. Just download the latest version at tsplines.com/latestversion.

Cheers,
Matt

[Matt Sederberg]

Will you be updating the manual with the new functionality?

Neil,

Probably not. We were in the process of getting a new video-based help system put together when the acquisition hit. We're now evaluating whether to finish that off or just go back and update the manual. In the meantime, please use the F1 help inside the program, which is updated with the new commands.

Matt

[Matt Sederberg]

:?: Hello again,

Hmmm just tried actually using the Cage edit tool on a tsplines model but when I try to move a control point it says "t-splines was converted to rhino object by the tsEditMode Command" Am I doing something wrong?

Cheers
Mark

Hi guys,

It's working here, on both Rhino 4 and Rhino 5 64 bit. Can you confirm what version of T-Splines you are using?

Matt

[alkrever]

Hi Matt: I'm seeing the same thing here. It seems to work on V5 Tsplines 64 but produces the above error message on V5 Tsplines (32) build 3.3 r8031 (32). Also works in Rhino V4.

Cage edit deforms the Tsplines object and leave an editable mesh from the cage along with the Tspline surface.

Al Krever

[Matt Sederberg]

Hi Matt: I'm seeing the same thing here. It seems to work on V5 Tsplines 64 but produces the above error message on V5 Tsplines (32) build 3.3 r8031 (32). Also works in Rhino V4.

Cage edit deforms the Tsplines object and leave an editable mesh from the cage along with the Tspline surface.

Al Krever

Ok, interesting. We usually only test against Rhino 4 and Rhino 5 64 bit. Let me look into this. Thanks for the report.

Matt

[Xenophya]

Hello Matt,

Thanks for replying so quickly

Doesn't work for me in either Rhino 4 or Rhino 5 (64)

Cheers
Mark

[Xenophya]

Hello Matt,

Just to say I have only just read through all of the posts regarding the sale to Autodesk, that makes the speed of your reply even more impressive!!

I have set up my own business and know how hard it is to do I'd sell in a heartbeat if I were in your situation. I do hope you stick around though the response and support from T-splines really has been terrific.

It was great to meet you last year and I wish you all the best.

Mark.

[Matt Sederberg]

Thanks Mark. It was good to meet you too.

I still can't repro here, even with Rhino 5 32 bit. Let me get a video done in the next couple of days and upload it to show how CageEdit should work with T-Splines; we were pleasantly surprised that the integration worked at all and maybe the way we are using the command and getting success is different than the way you are using it.

Matt

[tommsen]

Hi,
I used Autodesk_T-Splines_Plug-in_For_Rhino_3.3_r8031_64 and rhino5(x64) 0207 and it still leaves me a mesh after using cageedit
Tom

[Matt Sederberg]

Hi all,

Just a note that we now have over 50 new video tutorials available for the v3.3 release.

http://www.tsplines.com/support/basictutorials.html

I still need to work one up on Cage Edit .\

Matt

[Dan B]

That's going to be very helpful. Can we expect to see something on the retopology functionality soon?

Thanks,

Dan

[Matt Sederberg]

Hi Dan,

Check out the Retopo Snap video in the T-Splines UI section. What additional questions do you have about this functionality that you'd like to see addressed?

Best,
Matt

[Dan B]

Hi Matt,

I must be blind. I didn't see that there. I'll check it out, practice a bit, then see if I still have any questions.

Thanks,

Dan

[Matt Sederberg]

There is now a video up describing how to use Cage Edit with T-Splines, at the bottom of http://www.tsplines.com/support/basictutorials.html

Re: everyone who is getting their models converted to NURBS when using Cage Edit on T-Splines, can you confirm that it works if you run the CageEdit command before selecting the T-Spline surface?

Matt

[Neil]

Video says restricted content. Any chance of an mp4 version too? Thanks

[Matt Sederberg]

Video says restricted content. Any chance of an mp4 version too? Thanks

Apologies; it's public now. Will get an mp4 up, too, tomorrow.

Matt

[Xenophya]

Hello Matt,

That's the trick wasn't selecting first. Cadge edit really a great addition. Now if only T-splines had a trim option.......

Cheers
Mark.

[Dan B]

Hi Matt,

Back on the subject of the retopo snaps. It seems to me I can get the corners of a surface to snap to the mesh, but not the center area. Can you do a video showing how to wrap a surface on a cylindrical mesh using the retopo snaps? Or maybe just explain it? Maybe I'm just missing something basic?

Thanks,

Dan

[Matt Sederberg]

Hi Matt,

Back on the subject of the retopo snaps. It seems to me I can get the corners of a surface to snap to the mesh, but not the center area. Can you do a video showing how to wrap a surface on a cylindrical mesh using the retopo snaps? Or maybe just explain it? Maybe I'm just missing something basic?

Thanks,

Dan

Dan,

That's expected behavior for this tool. All it does is snap vertices to the nearest object in the scene (like a mesh). With the image you posted, it looks like it is a face with four corners; the tool will just snap each of the corner vertices.

If you'd like the center area to snap, you'll need to add control points there. The easiest way to do this is to run the tsSubdivideFace command a few times on your surface.

Hope that helps,
Matt

[Dan B]

Okay, sounds good. I'll give that a try.

Thanks,

Dan

[Dan B]

Easy enough, but how do I snap that surface to the mesh?

Thanks,

Dan

[Matt Sederberg]

Turn on and select the points of the surface, make sure retopo snap is on, and that it is in World mode (not View), then just "bump" the points slightly by moving them with the manipulator towards the torus, and they will snap to the torus.

[Dan B]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the help. I recalled seeing that done during the webinar on Dec 8th, but I was struggling to reproduce it. It's working like a champ now!

Dan

[Matt Sederberg]

Great!

[dyepeche]

Hi Matt -

giving tsplines a try -
installed to rhino 5 64 bit 22-Feb-2012.
but the t-splines toolsbars are not showing.
read something about clearing rhino 5 toobar cache - but can't find any command for that.

this is how the toolbars look
http://screencast.com/t/2BaKODvhrG

thanks to unknown hardware spirit - problem solved -
cheers

mads

[dyepeche]

toolbar not showing :
when i type tstoolbar -
the history kicks this back - correct ? converted?
Command: tsToolbar
File "C:\ProgramData\TSplines\Rhino\TSplines.tb" was previously converted to C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Roaming\McNeel\Rhinoceros\5.0\ui\TSplines_tb.rui and left open.
T-splines toolbar is now loaded

somehow solved happy makes fun. interesting

[bjorn.syse]

Hi,

How can I upgrade from v.2 ? I can't find any buy button at all on this page:

http://store.autodesk.eu/store/adsk/en_ ... 245910600#

Regards

- Björn

[Matt Sederberg]

Hi,

How can I upgrade from v.2 ? I can't find any buy button at all on this page:

http://store.autodesk.eu/store/adsk/en_ ... 245910600#

Regards

- Björn

Bjorn,

Autodesk is having some technical difficulties with T-Splines on their Europe store. I keep expecting this to be resolved any day; hopefully I'll have an update later today or tomorrow.

Regarding upgrades, please see this thread.

[dyepeche]

solved - !

[Matt Sederberg]

Hi Mads,

Thanks for bumping this, sorry it slipped through the cracks. I'm just downloading the Feb 22 Rhino 5 to see if I can repro here. Will be back soon.

Matt

[Matt Sederberg]

Hi,

How can I upgrade from v.2 ? I can't find any buy button at all on this page:

http://store.autodesk.eu/store/adsk/en_ ... 245910600#

Regards

- Björn

T-Splines is back up for sale in Europe now:
http://store.autodesk.eu/store/adsk/en_ ... .245910600

[dyepeche]

Hi Mads,

Thanks for bumping this, sorry it slipped through the cracks. I'm just downloading the Feb 22 Rhino 5 to see if I can repro here. Will be back soon.

Matt

Hi matt -just thought it was cleared - and a solo this pc issue...after i tried the TStoolbar command and the two "new in v3" and "tspline" showed up.
When i try to the additional menues - like "all command" - they are still showing "blank" -
when i dock the "new in v3" + "tspline" and they sticks - also after a restart showing top - but all these: - infact all i can chose for the "flagged" horizontal menue line - they do not show.
all looks like this: http://screencast.com/t/2BaKODvhrG

And the DockingWindow shows correctly and tools ca be added from prefs list

even the icon in the remove menue doesn't show.


cheers

[dyepeche]

T-Splines is back up for sale in Europe now:
http://store.autodesk.eu/store/adsk/en_ ... .245910600

my comments to the european pricetag by autodesk have been erased by myself.
as no reaction came to the plus 50% prictag.

[Matt Sederberg]

Mads,

I spoke with my programmers about this. Rhino 5 toolbars work differently than those in Rhino 4; as I understand it to maintain compatibility, then Rhino 4 toolbars are automatically converted to a temporary Rhino 5 format while you are running Rhino. These temporary toolbars should be deleted when you close Rhino, but it looks like yours stuck around.

The temporary automatically converted Rhino 5 toolbar is usually in:

%AppData%\McNeel\Rhinoceros\5.0\ui\TSplines_tb.rui

Delete that file, restart Rhino, and run tsToolbar. This should fix your problem.

Matt

Hi Mads,

Thanks for bumping this, sorry it slipped through the cracks. I'm just downloading the Feb 22 Rhino 5 to see if I can repro here. Will be back soon.

Matt

Hi matt -just thought it was cleared - and a solo this pc issue...after i tried the TStoolbar command and the two "new in v3" and "tspline" showed up.
When i try to the additional menues - like "all command" - they are still showing "blank" -
when i dock the "new in v3" + "tspline" and they sticks - also after a restart showing top - but all these: - infact all i can chose for the "flagged" horizontal menue line - they do not show.
all looks like this: http://screencast.com/t/2BaKODvhrG

And the DockingWindow shows correctly and tools ca be added from prefs list

even the icon in the remove menue doesn't show.


cheers

[dyepeche]

Hi Matt -
i will try that fix to the toolbars - great.
best regards - mads

yep - fixed -
rest of the TS toolbars still showing blank when launched through right clicking > show toolbars > tspline folder
but if you launch tspline toolbars through the menue tools > tollbars / selct Tspline set - they all show up like reborn - a life and kicking.

best wishes from old europe.

mads