Distance Map to IsoLines (Distance Maps › Distance Map to IsoLines) draws the contour of a distance map at one value, like a contour line on a topographic map. Use it to get the outline of a relief at a given depth, for example the outline of engraved text or of a pocket, and then work with it as a polyline.
Create isolines
- Select one Distance Map object in the Scene tree.
- Click Distance Map to IsoLines. The panel opens.
- Set IsoValue and, if needed, turn on Use Depth.
- Click Create IsoLines.
| Parameter | What it does | Default / tip |
|---|---|---|
| IsoValue | The map value at which the contour is drawn. The range of the field is the smallest to the largest value stored in the map. | The smallest value of the map |
| Use Depth | On: the lines are placed on the map surface, at their depth. Off: all lines lie flat in one plane. | Off |
Each click on Create IsoLines adds a new Polyline object named <map name>_IsoLines<N> (_IsoLines0, _IsoLines1, …). The panel makes one contour level per click; to get several levels, change IsoValue and click again.
Use Depth off and on
With Use Depth off, the isoline is a flat contour, separate from the map surface:
With Use Depth on, the same contour follows the shape of the map. Hide the map to see lines that lie on its surface.
A lower IsoValue gives another contour, created as one more Polyline object:
What to do with the lines
Contours from a dense map have many vertices. Reduce them with Simplify, build a mesh around them with Offset, or fill a closed contour with Lines to Mesh. To get contours of a mesh by flat cuts instead, use Section.
