Measure & analyze
Working with Lines & Distance Maps
Work with polylines and distance maps in MeshInspector — where lines come from, line info and direction, simplifying and smoothing, lines to meshes, points, voxels and distance maps, and distance maps to meshes, iso-lines and images.
Start here
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Lines & Distance Maps BasicsPolylines and distance maps in MeshInspector. Get lines from a section, from iso-lines or from points, turn them into a mesh, a tube, an extrusion or a distance map, and find the right tool of the Lines and Distance Maps tabs.
Lines InfoLines Info in MeshInspector shows the vertices and edges of a polyline, their ids, coordinates and neighbors, and whether the line is consistently oriented.
Flip OrientationFlip Orientation in MeshInspector reverses the direction of the selected lines (the order of their vertices) without changing their shape. When the direction matters and how to check it.
Edit & analyze lines
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Simplify for LinesLearn how to use the Simplify tool in MeshInspector to decimate polylines, reduce vertices and edges, and control the resulting shape with advanced settings.
To SplineTo Spline in MeshInspector makes a smooth line out of the ordered points of a point cloud or a polyline, with a set distance between points. Parameters, results and a use case.
Lines DerivativeLines Derivative in MeshInspector shows the center lines of a flat contour and, by the height of the points, how wide the shape is at each place. Settings, a worked example and limits.
Build meshes from lines
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Lines to MeshConvert closed polyline contours into a mesh with Lines to Mesh in MeshInspector — a flat surface with holes, a plate with thickness, or a separate patch for each 3D contour.
Offset for LinesThe Offset tool of the Lines tab in MeshInspector makes a tube-shaped mesh around a polyline. Set the offset (the tube radius) and the voxel size, and watch the voxel count.
Extrusion BodyExtrusion Body in MeshInspector sweeps the selected line (the profile) along the X, Y or Z axis or along another line (the trajectory) and makes a mesh. Parameters, defaults and an example.
Convert lines
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Lines to PointsConvert polyline objects into point clouds with Lines to Points in MeshInspector — one click, no settings, one point for each vertex of the line.
Lines to VoxelsConvert a polyline into a voxel volume with Lines to Voxels in MeshInspector. Each voxel near the line stores its distance to the line; set Voxel Size and Offset (voxels).
Lines to Distance MapConvert flat polyline contours into a distance map in MeshInspector. Set the area with Origin Point and Size, the resolution with Pixel Size or DMap Size, and choose signed or unsigned distances.
Distance maps
6- Mesh to Distance MapConvert a mesh into a distance map (depth map) in MeshInspector. Set the view direction, choose Pixel Size or resolution, and know that the mesh is replaced by the map.
Distance Map to MeshConvert a distance map into a mesh surface in MeshInspector with one click. The map stays in the scene; the result is an open height-field mesh.
Distance Map to IsoLinesCreate contour lines (isolines) from a distance map in MeshInspector. Pick an IsoValue, choose whether the lines follow the depth, and get a Polyline object.
Distance Map to ImageExport a distance map as a grayscale image (PNG, JPEG, TIFF or BMP) in MeshInspector, and use Distance Map to Image Advanced to set the Threshold gray level.
Image to Distance MapLoad a PNG, JPEG or TIFF image into MeshInspector as a distance map or a mesh relief. Cut off dark or light pixels, set Max Height and Pixel Size, and import.
Distance Map BooleanCombine two distance maps in MeshInspector with Merge Max, Merge Min or Subtraction. Prepare matching maps and use Subtraction to see what changed between two states of a part.