# Scale Polar?

**URL:** <https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619>\
**Category:** Rhino for Windows\
**Created:** [May 1, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619 "2015-05-01T19:00:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 16\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![hanscad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/hanscad/32/620415_2.png) [@hanscad](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/hanscad)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/1 "2015-05-01T19:00:03Z")

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Occasionally, I need to do the equivalent of a scale1D, but polar about a point. I’ve been using FlowAlongCurve, but it’s kind of a process. Is there any kind of a Scale Polar or Stretch Polar command?

Something like this:

![](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/19589/90ce7b1fa71dc55a.jpg)

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**Author:** ![pascal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/pascal/32/479395_2.png) [@pascal](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/pascal)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/2 "2015-05-01T19:50:22Z")

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Hi Hans - No built-in way or good workaround comes to mind I’m afraid.

-Pascal

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**Author:** ![davidcockey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/davidcockey/32/732604_2.png) [@davidcockey](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/davidcockey)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/3 "2015-05-01T20:13:25Z")

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deleted

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**Author:** ![chuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/chuck/32/512984_2.png) [@chuck](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/chuck)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 9:16pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/4 "2015-05-01T21:16:45Z")

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Try making two spherical caps. One roughly lining up with the thing to be scaled, and the other being the result of the spherical scale on the first. Now call FlowAlongSrf with the first as the base and the second as the target. This should give you want you want. I’m not sure how difficult it is to get the spherical caps right. You may have to play around a bit.

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**Author:** ![chuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/chuck/32/512984_2.png) [@chuck](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/chuck)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/5 "2015-05-01T21:39:18Z")

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[Spherical scale.3dm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/19591/ff2e1976a7e2bad6.3dm) (38.9 KB) Use the blue as base, black as target to scale the red thing.

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**Author:** ![davidcockey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/davidcockey/32/732604_2.png) [@davidcockey](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/davidcockey)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/6 "2015-05-02T16:53:50Z")

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Is this about different scale factors in each direction, or scaling as if the object was embedded in a sphere which was changing size?

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**Author:** ![hanscad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/hanscad/32/620415_2.png) [@hanscad](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/hanscad)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 10:44am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/7 "2015-05-04T10:44:11Z")

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One polar axis at a time would be great. The radial direction isn’t the same as a global 3-d scale, it’s what you’d have if you were able to leave the base sphere alone and scale outward (or inward) from there.

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**Author:** ![pascal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/pascal/32/479395_2.png) [@pascal](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/pascal)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 5:01pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/8 "2015-05-04T17:01:59Z")

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Added [http://mcneel.myjetbrains.com/youtrack/issue/RH-30319](http://mcneel.myjetbrains.com/youtrack/issue/RH-30319)

thanks.

-Pascal

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**Author:** ![mirkos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/mirkos/32/526617_2.png) [@mirkos](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/mirkos)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 12:41pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/9 "2015-06-08T12:41:10Z")

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Hi everybody!  
I’m also missing such a feature…  
scaling in 1 or 2 dimensions, but leaving objects in place!  
I design watches so usually I have text o dashes to position in a radial position.  
It would be great to scale them e.g. in height without moving them away from their baseline.

History function is a great help, but does not work in all situations…

It would be a great addition to Rhino!!!

I would call it “Radial scale (1D or 2D)”

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/5/d/5d8ee7cd8cf2e1e8cc40c671463a12579070d877.PNG)

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**Author:** ![Willem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/willem/32/554347_2.png) [@Willem](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/Willem)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/10 "2015-06-08T16:44:14Z")

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Hi Mirko,

It might be you are helped with the command \_TestScalePosition  
Check the commandline for the options 1D 2D or 3D.

-Willem

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**Author:** ![BrianJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/brianj/32/751593_2.png) [@BrianJ](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/BrianJ)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/11 "2015-06-08T16:52:48Z")

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I posted a Grasshopper definition in this discussion

> [@Incremental scaling along a curve?](http://discourse.mcneel.com/t/incremental-scaling-along-a-curve/19770):
>
> Is there any way to incrementally scale an object along a curve? I don’t want to have to buy something to do it. TIA Paul

that may help with this type of scaling as well…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pascal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/pascal/32/479395_2.png) [@pascal](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/pascal)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/12 "2015-06-08T20:20:16Z")

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Hi Mirkos - Without affecting the baseline … .one way out might be to make the layout as a linear one initially and then Flow (Rigid=Yes, I would think) from a line to the circle, using History. Then, you can scale1D the originals and the copies should update.

Here’s a quick example- the spacing is a little rough, but you’ll get the idea.  
[ScaleRadialViaFlow.3dm](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/6/6/665198f7e0c7efe2fe221dc60ab35f9186340cc6.3dm) (391.4 KB)

-Pascal

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mirkos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/mirkos/32/526617_2.png) [@mirkos](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/mirkos)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 9:19am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/13 "2015-06-09T09:19:48Z")

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> [@Willem](#):
>
> \_TestScalePosition

Great Willem!!!  
I didn’t knew this command… Cant’ find it even anywhere so I create my own button… 😉  
Thanks a lot!!!  
This helps a lot, as I can now simply scale in 2D and then reposition!  
I often have to correct graphics a few fractions of mm’s and check on the visual appearance.  
Working dynamically (and with the help of the history function) is crucial.

Also thank you pascal! Flow + history is very powerful!  
I actually work like this sometimes, but working “indirectly” can be a bit abstract…  
That’s why I was looking for direct “radial scaling and modifying” commands!

It happens I need to project or extrude and cut the type on an inclide surface (in watchmaking called: rehaut or inner ring) and check on its (stretched) appearance.

If I manage to not break the history this is good dynamic or “parametric-style” workflow!

Thanks a lot for the help!!

(Grasshoper might be of help too, but I didn’t get around on learning it yet…)

ciao  
Mirko

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mirkos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/mirkos/32/526617_2.png) [@mirkos](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/mirkos)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 9:26am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/14 "2015-06-09T09:26:00Z")

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This would even be better if the font could be changed!  
I wonder if I can use the annotation text instead of this one… as it seems editable…  
I will make a test!

Thanks again Pascal!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hanscad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/hanscad/32/620415_2.png) [@hanscad](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/hanscad)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 10:04pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/15 "2015-06-09T22:04:23Z")

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I’ve been having really good luck with FlowAlongSrf for the types of operations I’ve been doing with this, even doing handy stuff like remapping between toric and spherical base surfaces.

When I have some more time, I’ll try to write up a method for this.

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**Author:** ![robinp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/robinp/32/354986_2.png) [@robinp](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/robinp)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/scale-polar/19619/16 "2015-11-13T18:34:44Z")

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I’d add to those requesting this polar scale feature. Would be very handy!