Creating & Using Standard Patterns

Start with a Design

As with a quick pattern, a standard pattern uses difference between the active design and the template to randomly create new designs. A standard pattern also allows the user to set a number of parameters that affect the height and visibility of each block.

The image shows the already created template and the active design. Each has seven blocks.

Make a Standard Pattern

Select menu item Pattern-Make Standard Pattern. A dialog box will appear.

Block Group, Visibility, and Height

For each block, you have the option to assign it to a Group. By default, all blocks are assigned to group 1. Group blocks together if you want a set of adjacent blocks to be of fixed height. You can leave all blocks in group 1 if you'd like.

If Always Present is checked, the block will appear in every design. If unchecked, there's a 50% chance of it appearing. In this case, blocks 1-3 and 6-7 will always appear; blocks 4 and 5 may or may not.

If Fixed Height is checked, the block will be adjusted so it always matches the height of the block contained in the template (orange outline).

Click OK when ready to proceed.

Group and Model Height

For each group, you can choose to make it of fixed height or not. You can do the same for the model. It's best not to check all the boxes, as that can lead to an overly constrained design that may cause unrealistic distortions.

Designs from this Standard Pattern

The 1st image is the design contained in the template. The second image is the active design. The eight designs that follow are a random blend of the two.

Save the Pattern

Once a pattern has been created you can save a copy for future use or to share with other by selecting menu item Pattern-Save Pattern.

Close the Pattern

Once a pattern is created or opened, it is in control of the auto generation of new designs. To go back to the default design equations, close the pattern by choosing menu item Pattern-Close Pattern. Be sure to save the pattern first if you want to keep a copy.

Example 2

In this example, a pen is the pattern.

The parameters as set in the first dialog. The two ends of the pen are always present but the middle blocks are all randomly visible. With this many variable blocks, there will be a lot of variation in the middle of the designs.

The second dialog. Here, the section of the pen that is grasped by the hand is keep of fixed height (Group 1) and the overall pen is kept at a fixed height (which in this case is 5.5 inches).

Designs from this Standard Pattern

The 1st image is the design contained in the template. The second image is the active design.
The designs that follow are a random blend of the two.