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Creating CoMPlex Curtain Walls 517

basic graphic representation of how the panel may look. These graphic patterns can then be
replaced with parametric components that automatically conform to the divided surface.

Dividing the Surface
Let’s take a look at the basic tools that will allow you to divide the surface of a conceptual form:
1. Start by opening c12-Square-Panel.rfa from this book’s companion website.

This file represents a simple conceptual shape for a curtain wall design (Figure 12.49).
The form was constructed by drawing two curves at varying reference levels, and then a
surface was generated between them.

Figure 12.49
Conceptual
shape to be used
as a basis for a
complex curtain
wall design

2. Select the form and then click Divide Surface on the contextual tab in the ribbon.
This will divide the surface of the form and you will see horizontal and vertical grids
displayed. This is the UV grid.
You can control the display of the UV grid when it is selected (Figure 12.50). To modify
the display, click the U Grid or V Grid button in the UV Grids And Intersects panel on the
Modify | Divided Surface tab of the ribbon.

3. With the surface selected, make sure the U grid and V grid icons are highlighted in the
contextual tab of the ribbon.
Notice how the Options bar provides a number of settings for you to modify the divided
surface. You can control the U grid and V grid by a number or with a specific distance.
If you select the Number option, you can enter a number of divisions that will distribute
evenly across the surface.

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