Problem with the Align and Spacing Tool

[t_smith5]

I'm having an issue with the above mentioned tool. I'm following a book for making a character's belt, and some small rivets, which are sphere halves, need to go around the belt. The book says to make a shape/line from a couple of selected belt edges for the rivet's path. When in the Align > Spacing Tool, I select the path/spline, specify the amount, select Centre, but when I click the Follow box, they're all positioned at odd angles. If I un-check it, they all face forward, but they're not flat against the surface. I'm not sure what to do to get the tool working correctly. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[10DSpace · Accepted solution]

@t_smith5 

The orientation of the pivot of the object you are spacing along the path is important. I had to rotate the pivot 90 degrees ("Affect Pivot Only"; Hotkey = Insert) to have Y poking out of the top of the half sphere to get this result which I think you are going for.  

Also, based on your image, the orientation of the spaced objects is reversed on the upper and lower segments of the spline path shape.  I suggest that you create 2 separate lines and space the objects along each one separately in 2 separate spacing operations.   This will make it unambiguous for the spacing tool to work along each path correctly.    Hope it helps. 

[t_smith5]

Oops. Yeah, both splines were made at the same time. Didn't even realise I was trying to add them to both at once.

Still having a problem with getting it to face in the right direction though. Even messing with the pivot, and the direction of the Y, it won't face towards the screen all the way around. Not sure if my spline is to blame as well... After all, the character's belt and trousers are angled based on the reference image.

If I rotate the object to face a particular direction - left, right, back - it works. But not if it's towards me. They keep facing down and then gradually face upwards at an angle towards the back.

When I did manage to angle the object so it was facing forwards, the back ones were facing upwards. >_<

[10DSpace · Accepted solution]

@t_smith5 

I do see your issue and I do not have an elegant solution for it.  But I do have a (brute force) solution.  You do not have that many objects to correct the orientation of and

a) the objects are already placed correctly along the spline and

b) you only have to rotate them in the correct position on 1 local axis.  

So with "local" selected as the Reference Coordinate System I suggest the practical solution of manually rotating each one in the local axis needed to correct the orientation.   

In this particular case, I think it is easily manageable within 5 minutes and in the absence of (my knowledge of) a more general procedural solution, it's the best I can recommend to help you move on to your next challenge.    Hope it helps.  

[t_smith5]

I'll give it a go. I didn't even realise I could rotate each one. Usually if I make a sudden move, such as moving the viewport, they disappear. But yeah, it shouldn't take long to do. As usual, thanks again for your help. 🙂