Nick Kallen ships Plasticity 1.4
Tools developer Nick Kallen has released Plasticity 1.4, the latest version of the lightweight NURBS modeller.
The update adds the “two most requested features ever” since the initial release: the option to set absolute dimensions, and to add measurement annotations to models.
Plasticity can also now import FBX, DWG and DXF files, and supports the SpaceMouse.
A lightweight NURBS modelling app for concept art, not industrial design
Released in April, and pitched as “CAD for artists”, Plasticity is a streamlined NURBS modeller.
The software is intended to provide a low-cost, artist-friendly alternative to tools like MoI – which Kallen describes as a “huge inspiration” – and Fusion 360, and is aimed at concept art as well as industrial design.
It features a streamlined UI, with on-screen clutter reduced by context-sensitive widgets and pop-up UI panels, and uses key bindings and selection modes that should be familiar to Blender users.
Plasticity 1.4: new Dimension and Measure commands
For anyone creating models for fabrication, the key changes in Plasticity 1.4 will be the new Dimension and Measure commands.
The former sets absolute dimensions for parts of a model, including the distance between faces, the dimensions of primitives, and the radii of circles, cones, cylinders and fillets.
The latter lets users create 3D annotations showing the distance between two points on a model, simply by clicking on those points in the viewport.
The annotations are aligned to axes, and update automatically as the model is edited.
New tools for creating 2D curves, and more Blender-like scene navigation
The update also adds new options for creating 2D curves, including Tangent Circle and Tangent Arc, and Offset Vertex, for adding new vertices to curves.
Workflow improvements include support for Blender-style scene navigation, including [Alt]-MMB to center the view, and the option to hold [Alt] while orbiting to snap to an orthogonal view.
Support for more 3D file formats, and SpaceMouse support
For users with Studio licenses, other changes include support for importing files in FBX, DWG and DXF format. The latter two are only available on Windows and Linux.
In addition, Plasticity now supports 3DConnexion’s SpaceMouse input devices.
Price, system requirements and release date
Plasticity 1.4 is available for Windows 10+, Ubuntu 22.04+ Linux and macOS 12.0+. It runs on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. The update is free to existing users.
Perpetual node-locked Indie licences cost $149, and import and export files in OBJ, STEP and Parasolid XT format. Studio licences support a wider range of file formats and cost $299.
Read a full list of new features in Plasticity in the online documentation
Read more about Plasticity on the product website
Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we don’t post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.