Creating a Hexagonal Mapping

Prerequisites: A 3D texture must be created. A pattern and support to pattern must already be selected. An axis system must be set.
  1. In the Mapping section, from the Mapping Type drop-down list, select Hexagonal.
  2. Set the following parameters:
    Hexagon Width Along X Direction
    Hexagon Edge Length
    Distance Between Hexagon Centers Along X
    Hexagon Height Along Y Direction
    Mapping Area X Length
    Mapping Area Y Length
    Angle With X Direction
    Angle With Y Direction
  3. If you want to limit the mapping to a specific area, shape:
    1. If not already done, import or create a face in the current assembly.
    2. In the Mapping section, select the Filtering tab.
    3. click Filter Surface and select the imported/created object to limit the 3D texture distribution to that specific face.
  4. If you want to define an offset along Z direction on the projected patterns:
    1. click Shift Surface and select the support on which to apply the offset.
    2. Type a value in Shift Scale Ratio to determine the offset of your patterns.
  5. In the Support To Pattern section, in the Orientation drop-down list, select how to project the pattern on the support:
    • select Constant to orientate the pattern according to the 3D Texture support.
    • select Normal to Support to orientate the pattern according to the normal of the support surface.
  6. If you want to define three scale factors to set the size of each pattern independently on the 3 axes (X, Y, Z):
    1. click the expand arrow to display all the sections.
    2. In the Feature to Pattern section, click to select a Pattern X Scale, to select a Pattern Y Scale and to select a Pattern Z Scale.

      The scaling factor to apply to a specific mapping point is defined by the height of the point of this surface, at the corresponding coordinates (X,Y).

      Note: You can define a specific scale on all three independent axes (X,Y,Z axes) or on one axis only (only on X for example).
    3. Define a Scale Ratio for each scale.
      The Scale Ratio is applied to all the patterns of a direction. The pattern scale factors are cumulative to the global scale factor (global scale factor * pattern scale factor = final pattern scale factor).
  7. In the Preview section:
    • If you want to automatically update the preview each time you make a modification on the 3D Texture definition, check Automatic Preview.
    • If you want to manually update the preview, click Update Preview.
    • With Start Index and End Index, you can set where the number of patterns to display starts and ends.
    • With Max Points to Display, define the maximum number of patterns to display in the 3D view.
    In case of high number of patterns displayed in the 3D view, the geometry manipulation can slow down.
  8. Click Apply to verify the 3D texture distribution.
The hexagonal mapping is created and an OPT3D Mapping file is automatically generated and stored in the SPEOS inputs files folder.