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What is this auto-generated path that appears when creating a lofted surface with guide curves?

Question asked by Liam Ginann on Feb 10, 2021
Latest reply on Feb 10, 2021 by Liam Ginann

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Was following this tutorial from youtube >> https://youtu.be/zOL60Gt7SDk?t=387 . . . and during the creation of the lofted surface at the end, this (highlighted in red below) straight line path shows up. In the tutorial, no information is given as to what purpose this line serves. Even more confusing is the fact that this line changes position as you begin selecting your guide curves. And also, the circles/handles at the end change color from green to cyan.

I'm thinking maybe the tutorial is flawed in some way, and that too much is being asked of the lofted surface tool?

Any ideas?

Paul Salvador Feb 10, 2021 2:29 PM

Correct Answer

Most of what I've seen on those videos is a general understanding...

That start/end connectors are only an approximation so I wouldn't rely on them but they can be useful to understand the approx loft flow behavoir or showing all connectors to better understand the how you can flow between the sketches.. or using Centerline will give you another flow option.... then adding GC's for more intent.

Direction and selection order can also determine how the loft flow behaves.... that is, reverse what he did... ?

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Paul Salvador Feb 10, 2021 2:29 PM

Most of what I've seen on those videos is a general understanding...

Direction and selection order can also determine how the loft flow behaves.... that is, reverse what he did... ?

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Matt Peneguy @ Paul Salvador on Feb 10, 2021 3:28 PM

To elaborate on what Paul posted...It really matters where you select those points. So, SW is trying to show that. It's not as evident sometimes with circular profiles. To exaggerate it using rectangles shows the difference:

vs.:

If I select the profile on Sketch4 at a different location, I get a different result.

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Liam Ginann @ Matt Peneguy on Feb 10, 2021 4:22 PM

Matt Peneguy wrote:

To elaborate on what Paul posted...It really matters where you select those points. So, SW is trying to show that. It's not as evident sometimes with circular profiles. To exaggerate it using rectangles shows the difference:

Yes, I just tried that out. I can see now how they might be useful for more angular profiles. Thanks for that.

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Liam Ginann @ Paul Salvador on Feb 10, 2021 4:19 PM

Paul Salvador wrote:

Most of what I've seen on those videos is a general understanding...
That start/end connectors are only an approximation so I wouldn't rely on them but they can be useful to understand the approx loft flow behavoir or showing all connectors to better understand the how you can flow between the sketches.. or using Centerline will give you another flow option.... then adding GC's for more intent.
Direction and selection order can also determine how the loft flow behaves.... that is, reverse what he did... ?

"Connectors" . . . that's the word I was missing. I was googling 'path' and 'guide' and coming up with nothing. Also, what bothered me was the fact there was only one of them, but it turns out there were more hidden in the background, and you just need to right-click and un-hide them. Confusing stuff . . . if you're going to hide something you should do it completely or not at all.

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Paul Salvador Feb 10, 2021 2:29 PM
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Most of what I've seen on those videos is a general understanding...
That start/end connectors are only an approximation so I wouldn't rely on them but they can be useful to understand the approx loft flow behavoir or showing all connectors to better understand the how you can flow between the sketches.. or using Centerline will give you another flow option.... then adding GC's for more intent.
Direction and selection order can also determine how the loft flow behaves.... that is, reverse what he did... ?
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- Matt Peneguy @ Paul Salvador on Feb 10, 2021 3:28 PM
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  To elaborate on what Paul posted...It really matters where you select those points. So, SW is trying to show that. It's not as evident sometimes with circular profiles. To exaggerate it using rectangles shows the difference:
  vs.:
  If I select the profile on Sketch4 at a different location, I get a different result.
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  - Liam Ginann @ Matt Peneguy on Feb 10, 2021 4:22 PM
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    Matt Peneguy wrote:
    
    To elaborate on what Paul posted...It really matters where you select those points. So, SW is trying to show that. It's not as evident sometimes with circular profiles. To exaggerate it using rectangles shows the difference:
    
    Yes, I just tried that out. I can see now how they might be useful for more angular profiles. Thanks for that.
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- Liam Ginann @ Paul Salvador on Feb 10, 2021 4:19 PM
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  Paul Salvador wrote:
  
  Most of what I've seen on those videos is a general understanding...
  That start/end connectors are only an approximation so I wouldn't rely on them but they can be useful to understand the approx loft flow behavoir or showing all connectors to better understand the how you can flow between the sketches.. or using Centerline will give you another flow option.... then adding GC's for more intent.
  Direction and selection order can also determine how the loft flow behaves.... that is, reverse what he did... ?
  "Connectors" . . . that's the word I was missing. I was googling 'path' and 'guide' and coming up with nothing. Also, what bothered me was the fact there was only one of them, but it turns out there were more hidden in the background, and you just need to right-click and un-hide them. Confusing stuff . . . if you're going to hide something you should do it completely or not at all.
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What is this auto-generated path that appears when creating a lofted surface with guide curves?

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