Creamy surface - parametric

Grasshopper
1

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to figure out how to generate a surface similar to the one in this artwork by Daniel Widrig, where the surface has flowing, fabric-like folds and distinct ribbed layers.

I understand how to create a base surface with noise (e.g., Perlin or Simplex noise), so the general undulating landscape isn’t the problem.

What I can’t quite figure out is:

  • How to achieve the variation in thickness between the ribs so they don’t look uniformly offset.
  • How to get the overall “creamy”, soft, almost liquid look rather than something that feels like a simple topographic map.

I know that something like this could be sculpted in ZBrush or modeled with SubD, but I’m specifically looking for a Grasshopper-based parametric approach to achieve it.

Thanks!

image
image750×767 63 KB

2

This looks like it is CNC machined with a 3 axis machine and ball end bit.

You can approximate the look by extruding contours.

Or simulate like this:


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3

maybe something like this
wavy.gh (10.6 KB)

4

Hi all,

Thanks a lot for the tips on how to generate the ribbed layers..interesting approaches

What I’m still wondering about is the “creamy” surface itself – the flowing, soft quality with a lot of local variation (almost like stretched fabric or melted wax).

Does anyone have ideas for how to create that effect parametrically in Grasshopper (rather than sculpting in ZBrush or using SubD)?

Thanks!

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