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Pattern Mapper

FREE + PRO

Places a 2D pattern onto any face, curved or flat. Grids, hexagons, Voronoi cells, spirals, random packing, or generative layouts. Output as a 3D sketch, or directly as emboss, deboss or split lines on the part. Modifiers vary size, rotation or depth across the surface.

Where to find it

Advanced Surface Tools tab › Pattern Mapper. Select the faces before or after clicking it. The PropertyManager opens on the left and the preview canvas, with the faces laid flat, in the Task Pane.

Modes

PatternA layout of shapes (circle, polygon, slot, point, cell, custom) on the faces.
BodySolid bodies at every pattern point, as a Pattern Bodies feature. See Pattern Bodies.
SketchA 2D sketch of the part mapped onto the faces as drawn, or the curves of the generators (text, lines, rings, flow lines …).

Output

3D sketchThe shapes written into a 3D sketch. Free.
Emboss / DebossThe closed shapes raised from or cut into the faces by a height, following the surface. Deeper than the wall gives holes; the counter of a letter stays free. Pro.
Split lineThe faces split along the shapes, each shape its own face: for appearances, draft or offsets. With Margin 0, an open curve running from edge to edge splits too. Pro.

Options

LayoutSquareGrid, HexGrid, Voronoi, Staggered, Radial, Spiral, Random, or Generative (Pro).
Generative+ Generator in the Task Pane: lines / waves, edge rows, rings, rays, spiral, contours, blend, circles, flow lines, text, image density, part rows, a random fill, or your own sketch.
OverlapsAllow, Remove, Shrink, Grow (each shape as big as fits) or Push apart, with a Clearance. The generator higher in the list wins.
ModifiersVary size, rotation, visibility, offset or emboss depth locally: attractors, gradient, edge distance, noise, formula, image, part geometry (curvature, draft, height). Combine and Masked by stack them.
Keep-outsAreas that stay free of the pattern.
Fit patternFits size and position in one click: whole cells, filled to the margin. Allow rotation lets it turn the pattern too.
FileSave and open patterns (.swpattern), export SVG. Presets include your own.

Editing the result

3D sketch: select the sketch (or one of its curves) and start Pattern Mapper again. OK replaces exactly its curves; your own geometry in the sketch stays.

Emboss, Deboss, Split line: right-click the feature in the FeatureManager tree › Edit Feature. The page opens on it and the result rebuilds in place.

Good to know

  • Emboss, Deboss and Split line take closed shapes only. Split line also takes open curves from edge to edge at Margin 0.
  • A shape reaching into the margin keeps its inside part, closed along the margin line.
  • A Depth modifier varies the emboss height per shape.