Spacing Tool Twist

[mtzvetanov]

Why is there no twist parameter on the spacing tool?
Or am I missing something?

I have a loft object that I have custom twisted. Now I need to place small square objects along one side of this loft object and these need to, of course, follow the twist.
I can't afford the time to rotate them manually after using the spacing tool to place them along the path.
Is there a solution to this I am missing? I can't be the only one having this issue.
Unfortunately I cannot share the scene (NDA).

What I get...

What I get

What I need

What I need

[domo.spaji]

Path deform modifier

[mtzvetanov]

Yes i know. Thank you for the reply. The Path Deformer is great...
...BUT! and it's big but.
The path deformer works only on 1 object right and I have instances. However, it wouldn't be an issue to just attach all objects to 1 and deform IF I could then custom twist the deformer as I can with the loft compound object 😕
And therein lies my problem.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

That`s the best i can come up with....

I would just use PathDeform and use the Driven Rotation for the twisting.

It`s totally procedural if you instance Pathdeform, you can change the spline, the twisting. Make sure you build the two objects with the same orientation.

PathDeform copied instead of instanced to the stones->Preserve Form by element, IF you don`t want them to deform. Offset with X-form

[mtzvetanov]

Thanks so much for the idea! I will definitely be trying this on Monday.

[mtzvetanov]

Thank you so much! This is perfect and much quicker than what I've been doing.
The only downside is that I can't have the stones as instances, but this is a very minor downside, as making copies and attaching to 1 object gets done in a matter of seconds.

You have saved me many hours of work time.
Thank you again!

[domo.spaji]

You're thanking yourself and not following  @Anonymous procedure.

But if you don't mind some deformations from your way, you can still keep instancing...

Just attach instanced objects in (pro)boolean compound and you'll have single obj. with "instanced elements".

Than add Path Deform to that (pro)boolean obj.

[mtzvetanov]

I noticed that 🤦🏼‍♂️ but I couldn't delete and reply properly.

Thanks, that's a good method. Hadn't thought of it.
However, it's for a product that needs to be as close to the real thing
as possible, so no deformations allowed.

Thanks for all your help and tips. Awesome stuff mate. You're the best.

[domo.spaji]

I just noticed "Preserve Form by element" in Aons message. That's new thing from 3rd gen. of Path Deform.

If that's keeping form on "your way" can't see reason for not working on "my".

In that case there's unnecessary steps in @Anonymous procedure.