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I'm learning about tapering objects watching tutorials and reading questions. Still I have some issues understanding how it works.

enter image description here

Please, take a look at the attached blender file.

What I did:

  1. created the "Path" curve
  2. created the "Section" curve
  3. created the "Taper" curve, duplicating the "Path" and moving on the X axis
  4. applied all the transformations
  5. set Section as Geometry > Bevel Object on the Path curve
  6. set Taper as Geometry > Taper Object on the Path curve

Now, if I try to move any handle of the Taper curve on the X axis the extruded profile changes abruptly with no real control (just 1 pixel from shrinked to the original size).

My goal is to make the upper part thinner and the lower part fatter.

Actually, I would like also to change the cross-section along the path: the upper part should be close to the circle, while the bottom part larger on the X axis (like an ellipse). But I think I can easily achieve this second step just scaling the resulting tapered object.

Mark
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2 Answers2

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Taper

Taper is 2D info ... your egg object takes radius (or size of profile object) from taper's distance on Y axis (X axis represents start/end of your "egg" curve.

enter image description here

Since Taper is controller, scale the "Section" object to 2m (I don't know why ... I would expect 1m like when Geometry > Bevel > Round > Depth), than distance of Taper's control points on Y axis corresponds to radius.

No Taper

BTW for such shape you dont have to use a Taper ... you can just select control point and adjust Radius ...

enter image description here

... and instead of your "Section" you can use already mentioned Geometry > Bevel > Round > Depth

Instead of Subdivision modifier go to Curve Data Properties and increase Resolution Preview.

Oval

To make bottom part oval profiled you can use Lattice modifier or Mesh Deform modifier.

vklidu
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  • Thanks for the hints! I'm going to study and try the last ones since I don't know them yet – Mark Jul 08 '23 at 11:14
  • Do you suggest to begin with a torus, then? – Mark Jul 08 '23 at 11:17
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    No, use your Bezier Circle, and instead your Profile and Taper objects use just parameters (all available) under Curve Data Properties. – vklidu Jul 08 '23 at 14:20
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The taper object needs to be an open curve and only the distance to the origin on X and Y will be taken into account, not on the Z axis, so you should have a taper object that looks like that (note that for your main object I've changed the first point of the curve with the Bsurfaces addon > N panel > Edit > Bsurfaces > Set First Points):

enter image description here

moonboots
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