User:Ritjesman/sandbox/Sandbox2 Abridged - Will this create a new page?





The Front Bracket
The brackets need to reflect the size and shape of the object they will be attached to. We could start with a new cylinder and the manipulate it to achieve the desired size and shape. An easier, faster and more accurate approach is to start with the facet of the lens casing the bracket will be attached to.
 * Select the lens casing, switch to Right Ortho view and enter Edit  mode ensuring “Limit Selection to Visible” is toggled off [[File:ILI01-Limit-Selection-to-Visible-off.jpg]]
 * Select the 8 horizontal faces directly in front of the handle stem; the easiest way is using Border Select
 * Duplicate and move to clear area (Fig. 23)
 * Separate selection as above and exit Edit mode.

Resetting the Origin

The lens casing is now the active object with the new object selected but not active (Fig. 23.b-A). Deselect all then select the newly created object  taking note of where its origin is as indicated by the small yellow square at the center of the Manipulator circle (Fig. 23.b-B). That is because the object “extracted” from the lens casing object carries with it the characteristics of the source at the point of Separation.

To change the Origin characteristic click on Set Origin→Origin to Center of Mass on the Tool Shelf. Now the Origin more accurately reflects the object it is attached to (Fig. 23.b-C).

This is also a good time to rename the object (using the Outliner Window) to something unique and easily identifiable like Big Game Camera Front Bracket.

Select the object just created and enter Edit mode; rotate the view vertically towards you until you can easily see the top and select the one vertical edge which has not been creased; crease it  at a factor of 1 (Fig. 24).

The following steps will transform the eight unremarkable faces into a rugged bracket Fig. 25): Upon exiting Edit mode the problem is solved; now results equal expectations.
 * 1) Orbit until you can easily see both the interior and exterior.  Deselect all  and switch to Vertex Select mode [[File:ILI06-Vetex-select-mode.jpg]]; select all  and Scale 20% on the Y axis.
 * 2) Scale 120% on the X and Z axis.
 * 3) Extrude and escape ; Scale 70% on the X and Z axis.
 * 4) Exit Edit mode  to view results.  Whoops, not quite what was expected but no worries. Re-enter Edit mode  and switch to face select mode [[File:ILI05-Face-select-mode.jpg]].
 * 5) Select all  and click  on Mesh→Normals→Recalculate Normals (or simply press ).  You will immediately see a change in face orientation.

The Rear Bracket
Rear bracket creation is identical to front bracket creation with the following changes:
 * Select the 8 horizontal horizontal faces directly to the rear of the handle stem
 * Scale 30% on the Y axis
 * Scale 130% on the X and Z axis

Front Bracket
We’ll start by positioning the 3D Cursor at the center of where we want to place the bracket. Obviously, the bracket needs to be positioned relative to the lens casing. Therefore, start by selecting the lens casing object and entering Edit mode.

Ensure you are still in Face Select mode with “Limit Selection to Visible”  is toggled off

Select the 8 horizontal faces directly in front of the handle stem exactly as was done to create the front bracket

Click on Mesh→Snap→Cursor to Selected; the 3D Cursor is now centered on all three axes within the selected faces (Fig. 26). It’s a bit difficult to see but the Cursor’s red and white circle is superimposed over the manipulator’s central white circle.

That takes care of the X and Z axes positioning but it’s not really where I want with respect to the Y axis. To move the Cursor along the Y axis whilst retaining the X and Z positions:
 * 1) exit Edit mode  and
 * 2) access the 3D Cursor Panel of the Properties Shelf and type the appropriate Y position (Fig. 27).  Note that the value you use is dependent on where your lens casing object is located  exactly  within the 3D space; the values in the figure are for illustrative purposes only.

To position the front bracket based on the 3D Cursor you can:

Click on Object→Transform→Align Objects; using the Align Object section that appears at the bottom of the Tool Shelf change Active to 3D Cursor then click on X, Y and Z under Align. The tool is interactive so you will see the Bracket change position as you click (Fig. 28).

OR

Click on Object→Snap→Selection to Cursor.

The Front Bracket is now exactly where we  need it to be.

Rear Bracket
Repeat the same process as used for the Front Bracket.

Retaining Positioning
Once the brackets are where we want them we need to keep them in place. In fact, we want the brackets to retain their current relationship with the lens casing. We will use Parenting to keep the brackets–lens casing relationship stable. Select the two brackets and lastly the lens casing using.

The order of selection is irrelevant with the exception of the last one selected; last selected is active and will be the Parent (master). Click on Object→Parent→Object→Object (Keep Transform). Now whatever we do with the lens casing the brackets will “tag along”.