The true power of Shape Bender isn't just in bending pipes; it’s in the details.
Before clicking a single button, you must understand the math. Shape Bender does not "smush" geometry. It performs a linear deformation. plugin sketchup shape bender
Imagine you have a straight line (the "straight curve") and a curved line (the "target curve"). The plugin maps the position of every vertex relative to the start of the straight line. If a vertex is 30% along the straight line, it will be placed 30% along the arc-length of the curved line. Wait for processing – Complex geometry may take
The Golden Rule: Shape Bender only works cleanly on geometry that is fundamentally linear. If your object has internal curves or complex faces that rely on absolute angles (like a gear), bending it will introduce shearing. The true power of Shape Bender isn't just
| Tool | Cost | Best for | |------|------|-----------| | Flowify (MindSight Studios) | $39 | Bending onto curved surfaces (not just paths) | | TrueBend (TIG) | Free | Simple 90° or 180° bends along arcs | | Curviloft (Fredo6) | Free (donation) | Lofting along curves, not bending existing objects | | SketchUp native Follow Me | Free | Extruding profiles, not bending groups |
Shape Bender remains unique in its specific use case: bending a pre-built object along a custom curve with texture retention.
When bending facades or detailed wood grain: