Hello!
Just writing to ask if there is a tool to draw outlines directly from polysurfaces and sub-ds.
I use the ‘MeshOutline’ often but as I mainly deal with polysurfaces and sub-ds I always have to make a mesh copy to draw the outline from.
thank you
Hi @Irene
MeshOutline works just fine on both Sub-D’s and (poly)surfaces without converting them to mesh. It’ll use the underlying rendermesh to calculate the outline, yes, but no need to convert it first. Othervise Make2D would be the alternative, which has the advantage of putting the result on the cplane, rather than on the view plane.
HTH, Jakob
thank you, I should have thought about it… 
I tried mesh outline on a subd but didn’t generate anything… does it have to be closed for it to work?
maybe this helps understanding the issue:
let’s take the example of this low poly mesh woman.
I rarely use meshoutline in perspective view, like here below.
and as jakob pointed out that works with polysurfaces and sub-d as well so not at issue.
what I mainly use it for is to just indicate the presence of something in an elevation. often these are complicated elements that will then be detailed separately. so it’s not about grabbing edges or wireframe but precisely ‘the outline’. here below you can see how with meshes meshoutline works to grab the outline in the orthographic views (this is what seems to not be available for sub-ds and polysurfaces). if I were to make2D or extract wireframe I would have to then go in and edit the linework anyway to obtain the outline.
On the left the SubD, in the center the mesh, and on the right the polysurface — I can extract the silhouette/outline.
Can you share the file of the model? I’ll try converting it into the different geometries and see if I can extract the outline.
in perspective view it all works for me too.
it’s in orthographic view that doesn’t. does it work for you in front view with your three cubes?
yes
weird… maybe I am using the wrong command (can’t see what you are using in the video). Could you try with my model if you have a moment? not urgent at all. it’s attached below. weirdly now it doesn’t even work with the mesh… maybe there is something wrong with the model..
Outline.3dm (4.0 MB)
Hi Irene -
Those objects are far away from the origin. When you move them to the origin, this works in the orthographic viewports as well.
→ RH-94988 MeshOutline: No Output in Parallel Viewports
-wim
BINGO!!! thank you Wim! that works now
thank you very much!
