OK, I can layout a path using the Straight Path Tool and Extrude it for making wooden 2x4's and wooden planks. But now I need a Curved 2x4 Wooden Arch. Using anim8or how do I make a 2x4 wooden arch? I tried laying out the arch using the Curved Path tool but it will only allow me to Extrude in 1 direction. I tried laying two arches and joining them but that didn't get me anywhere either? Can anyone assist this wanabe modler?

Try creating a full circle then cutting it in half. First form the rectangular cross-section of the arch as a Path, placing it several squares above the X-axis. Then, instead of Extruding from the path, Lathe it around the X-axis. This will give you a complete doughnut with a rectangular section. Save this as an OBJ for safety. Still looking at it from the same angle, click on the 'points' button. Then click on 'rectangular selection', and select the bottom half of the arch. (You might change the view to Ortho at this point to be sure you've selected the right part.) Then simply hit the Delete button, and the lower part will disappear. The remaining points should form an arch. Save it.

Oops. For clarity, in the third paragraph I should have said "select the bottom half of the doughnut", not the bottom half of the arch.

Not quite sure what you're trying to do.. can you post a quick sketch?

"what you're trying to do.. "

First of all and formost I think, I am trying to build my first full model for Poser and this time I swore to myself I am not going to give up..

Second, this is a shot of what I am making. Once I get the frame made, that wavey do-hicky design will be the next hurdle ;-P
(it's a scene from "A Knight's Tale")

If you want to reproduce the rough carpentry in the photo, you don't even need to worry about circles or lathing. Just draw what the arch looks like from the front, then extrude in the Z direction. The doughnut approach I listed would end up being "too round" for this. Anim8or will do a wonderful job on the zigzag thing, using the same approach.... just make a path corresponding to what it looks like from the front, then extrude on Z.

i would try to make the arch outline from the front (an arc for the bottom side, an arc for the top side, and the two edges) fill path, then extrude in z direction. the fill path bit is where you have to make sure your splines are neat otherwise you'll get lots of yukcy triangles.

Both these took about 15 minutes to make.. total time for both.. I used the ADD CUBE // NON UNIFORM SCALE // WARP MODIFIER // MIRROR // POINT EDIT // COPY // PASTE // UVMAPPER SPLIT VERTICIES. Let me know if a short tutorial would be useful.. if so I'll post it on my site.

Regards to all, Gerald.

There are so many ways to make the same thing!!

ockham: draw what the arch looks like from the front, then extrude in the Z direction. That was my first attempt however all I got was a 'flat' arch and could find a modifier to let me give it vertical width? AprilYSH: an arc for the bottom side, an arc for the top side, and the two edges. This was my second approch HOWEVER, I couldn't figure out how to make them one. It kept complaining I was choosing a "mesh" and not a "path". I Did Not think to try to "fill path"; That might get me there!? geralday: That is EXCATLY what I need to learn! But alas, as you have probably figured by now, I am an Absolute newbie to modeling and have only you fine folks here in the forum to learn from......Thanks all of you, I'll keep pokin at it and if need be, I'll get a Bigger Stick!! I am courious, geralday, where you mention using "UVMAPPER SPLIT VERTICIES"? Not clear on the approch/function here? Please don't go out of your way but if you have a tutorial to explain I would be much interested. I have your clothes tutorial but thought I'd first start with simple buildings untill I learn the different functions... quick swoop through the forum and store and it's back to construction!

"UVMAPPER SPLIT VERTICIES"
With your obects having mostly sharp edges and flat faces it's useful to pass them through UVMapper and apply the tool SPLIT VERTICIES to prevent Poser from curving everything. Thanks to ScottA for this tip!
I'll put a short tutorial together as other folks have asked similar questions.

Keep modelling,

Gerald.

I'm not sure how you use the WARP MODIFIER to create the arch from a cube? Anim8or User's Guide: ...you create a modifier object and Bind it to an existing mesh..... When you are satisfied with the shape, select the Build->Modifiers->Effects menu and the mesh will be transformed into its new shape. >>When I do the last step, the Modifier leaves and the mesh remains the same?

What am I leaving out here? If I can figure out an $80,000.00 circuit board's logic, follow a Xerox 'ladder schematic', set up a network, and make a parachute open 1,070 times successfully, why can't a make a simple arch in Anim80r??

WARP MODIFIER .. you need multiple divisions in the cube, say 10, both the cube and the modifier need selecting, then binding, then bending, and when bent, effecting.
From your screen image your cube may only have 1 division, or may not have been selected along with the modifier.

Hope this helps?

Um, don't worry if my suggestion doesn't work, i didn't actually try it! I just piped in about what I would try first! Gerald's block modelling and warping seems to be much easier! :) Did you do the eggplant tute for anim8or? If not, you should - it only takes 10-20 mins and you'll have the block modelling concept down pat. :)

geralday: Yes, it only had 1 division. I'll fire it back up and make it 10! AprilYSH: Every time I go that route and go to lay out 2 arched pathes and 2 end line, join them and try to FILL; it complains I am selecting a "mesh" and not a "path" or I get what you see above...gonna go geralday's way again....foget the pokin stick! where'd that crowbar go?!

Ok, so now I see how the 'divisions' allow the Warp Modifier to operate. But how did you make the multiple bends on just one edge of the cube? Also, I was able to follow your directions: ADD CUBE // NON UNIFORM SCALE // WARP MODIFIER // MIRROR // POINT EDIT // COPY // PASTE // UVMAPPER SPLIT VERTICIES --> Up through the the "WARP MODIFIER" point, after that I found myself lost. I don't understand where you went with the //MIRROR// through //UVMAPPER// and can not figure out how you used the WARP MODIFIER for the multiple curved edge?

For the curved edge I have been trying to apply the modifier to the Bottom 3/4 of the 20 divisioned cube (highlighted), divisions being only on the X-axis, do I need divisions on the Z-axis as well (assuming view from Front)?