Plasticity 2024.1 | What's New | Raise Degree | xNurbs | MatCaps | MORE

We can't cover everything that has changed but here is a list of minor and major updates.
1. Minor Enhancements
. Improved the interactivity of the Radial Array command.
. Enhanced accuracy of the midpoint computation for planar face polygons.
. Export dialog now remembers the last used filename.
. Automatically name imported image OBJ files based on the original import filename.
. Introduced a new orbit rotation strategy using the classic tumble turntable approach.
. Extended the TangentCircle command to construct tangents to three curves/edges.
. Added new shaders for isophotes and draft angle analysis.
. Introduced new built-in matcaps and for advanced surfacing workflows.
. Custom matcaps
. New "ultra" faceting preference to enhance surface smoothness in surfacing workflows. Use with caution!
. Command palette now highlights clashing keybindings in red.
. Diagnostic error bodies are now displayed in the Loft and Sweep commands to identify issues like self-intersections.
. PatchCommand now optionally accepts an overbuilt sheet to trim into a hole.
. UntrimCommand has been enhanced to create holes instead of only duplicating.
. ExtendCurve command expanded to accept curves in addition to vertices, extending in two directions simultaneously.
. JoinSheetsCommand can be triggered with one sheet selected, and it will prompt to select the second sheet.
. Shift-x can now temporarily disable undesirable snaps during point picking.
. RebuildCommand expanded to replace smoothly connected edges.
. Introduced new edge snaps .closest, perpendicular, tangent
. New hover snaps for tangent circles and arcs
. New hover snaps where curves and edges intersect the construction plane ,aka "pierces", and axes.
. The measurements panel now displays angles between two edges.
. Outliner's right-click menu includes a new option to create a group with selected items.
. "Plane from selection" now allows using surface cvs to create construction planes.
. Importing OBJ STL files now prompts for unit confirmation.
. Measurements in the lower-right panel can now be clicked to be copied directly to the clipboard.
. ExtendSheet Command introduced an "up to" behavior for extending surfaces.
. Enhanced the STEP export dialog to include options for converting analytic surfaces to NURBS and selecting the STEP version.
. Added a warning for unsaved changes when opening files as well as a indicator dot for unsaved changes in general.
. Simplified the Pipe Command gizmo.
. New obj export option: "inflexion".
. Obj export can now optionally use the current matcap and disable the wireframe. This can be used to check ultra-high-resolution zebras, for example.
. Dimension Command can now resize cylinders
Major Enhancements
. Offset Face command now supports dependent offsets.
. RaiseDegree Command increases surface complexity by converting analytic surfaces to spline and increasing the spline degree.
. Surface CV editing now allows direct manipulation of both trimmed and untrimmed faces.
. Faces with visible cvs now have a "nominal" surface to allow easier edits in the presence of direct editing
. RemoveNominalSurface Command is available in case it needs to be removed
. Introduced TogglePoints command to show hide points on faces, curves, and bodies.
. Added scaling options to the Pipe and Sweep commands.
. Implemented a "Full Round" fillet option.
. "Rebuild" command now can rebuild the surfaces of faces; extend and shrink options allow for easily overbuilding surfaces
Small but Significant Changes
. Dragging CVs of curves and surfaces now aligns with screen space; previously it was parallel to the construction plane
. Enhanced sketch operations to confirm with a single Enter press or single left-click.
Studio-Exclusive Features
. Integrated the xNURBS addon for high-quality surface construction.
. Added support for Rhino 8 imports.
Noteworthy Optimizations
. Enhanced parallelism in OBJ/STL exports.
. Object transformations now bypass refaceting on confirmation for efficiency.
. Implemented 16-bit snorm normals and 16-bit indices where possible to optimize memory usage.

[anything_x]

Finally someone who can explain things! Subscribed! Please more!

[cascadiadesign]

RE: Time 5:14 You can use "Rebuild" at a larger tolerance (such as 0.005) on that large corner fillet face to simplify its CV structure. I tried it and was able to pull out some CVs to distort the corner and then apply a smaller fillet around the top edges of the box. Everything remained stitched together as the object remained a solid. Your point about saving smaller fillet operations until the basic shape is achieved is well taken.

[wasfire]

Love your videos. So clear, everything. Thank you!

[shokk]

Thx for this, I'm on the indie version, but plenty to be learning with the new update.

[ShopTherapy]

I started my 3d printing journey about 10 months ago. I got an educational license for Fusion 360 (from my nephew), and have become pretty efficient at it. What is the learning curve going from Fusion to Plasticity, and is it worth switching? There's definitely a lot of limitations with Fusion.

[iJewelTech]

Hi, awesome videos, i have 2 questions, does plasticity have Rhino like history and update children thing? or any Parametric options?
Second, any chance that we can make jewelry? This program seems great, but I'm afraid it could lack Diamonds and cutters

[D.Naylor]

Not bashing SW; but their what's new videos barely get few thousands views even after few years. 10k views after 5 days in impressive.

[Argyll]

I wish every Plasticity video maker gave such clear, precise information. What really irritates me are video without a commentary.

[shokk]

I'm looking a basic course not on asset creation but this like snapping to the centre, snapping objects together, lining stuff up, how to do angles, creating parts then using the mirror tool correctly.
I use onshape, but feel comfortable in plasticity.
Would you know of anything that might help me?

[EscritorioSP-up]

The software purchase method is great. First because it allows customers to own the software for a price that makes sense, not being afraid to end up without a way to work if you dont have a credit card enabled every month. It means they will sell exponentially more than the usual solidworks, autocad, inventor etc.. Plasticity will take over for sure, becoming the standard for 3d design very soon due to the amount of new users learning it directly due to the low cost. All my friends bought it, and also in my company almost everybody has it already. Second that it stimulates the software house to keep improving the software way faster and making money with the small upgrades. People certainly will pay an extra 150 or 200 bucks for an upgrade each 6 months, rather than 29.90 a month. For the monthly subscription of autocad for example: every year, they launch a new version, no actual workflow improvement, no tool improvements, no actually a new useful functionality. You do the same stuff in version 2004 and 2024. It now looks just heavier to run.

[Matt-dz]

I'm about to start drsigning the interior of a narrowboat. I'm looking for software that will allow me to brainstorm ideas
, when happy, move the design over into say Fusion. Would Plasticity be able to do this? I tried Blender but the learning curve was too steep, SkerchUp Pro was non- intuitive but the workflow is what I was looking for - just bloody annoying to use!

[yellowsky]

Are the new features included in both versions? I'm trying to decide whether to get the Indie or Studio version. At the moment I think Studio is way beyond my capabilities.

[jimmyjames]

HI and thanks for the video!
I just tried to renew my plasticity license and wasn´t able to use your checkout code- why is that?

[JonneytheKidd]

I am so confused. At 3:35 into the video, you switched or clicked on something, but your cursor didn't move, and now all of a sudden those four points in the top corners appeared, and well I guess the raised degree are just there.

[gonzalomorenoandonaegui]

I had no idea of this software, is it better than Alias for surface modelling considering price ?

[dsteveo]

I just began you new 5 part on learning 1.4. Does this release mark the end of bug fixes. Or do we have to upgrade?

[cekuhnen]

CV Edit only works with G1 fillets! Not g2!

[FarazMKhan]

Seems very intuitive & powerful tool, but expensive for hobbiest around the corner.

[haansworsie]

I'm on Version 24.1.7 and the Ctrl+Alt for fillets does not work for me, does nothing

[DevSingh-bnfe]

Your discount code is not working for upgrading license