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Surface

Evaluate Surface

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Evaluate Surface

Evaluates a surface at given normalized {U,V} parameters and returns local geometric properties

Details

ID

tool-surface-evaluate-surface

Name

Evaluate Surface

Group

Surface

Package

Tool

Keywords

evaluate
surface
UV
normal

Input ports

NameTypeDescriptionDefault Value
Surface
Surface
Input surface to evaluate
U
Number
Normalized U parameter (range: 0 to 1) at which to evaluate the surface0.5
V
Number
Normalized V parameter (range: 0 to 1) at which to evaluate the surface0.5

Output ports

NameTypeDescription
Point
Point
Evaluated 3D point on the surface at {U,V}
Normal
Vector
Normal vector at the evaluated point
U Direction
Vector
Tangent vector in the U direction at the evaluated point
V Direction
Vector
Tangent vector in the V direction at the evaluated point
Plane
Plane
Local coordinate system (plane) at the evaluated point

Creation method

There are two options for creating an Evaluate Surface node.

  • The first way to create an Evaluate Surface node is using the search list, which is opened by double left-clicking in the workspace. You can write the name of the node you need, or words associated with this node.
    • evaluate, surface, UV, normal
  • The second way is to select an Evaluate Surface node from the menu that opens from the top left.
    • Menu > Tool > Surface > Evaluate Surface

Steps

  • Create an Evaluate Surface node.
  • Connect the surface you want to evaluate to the surface port.
  • Set the uParam and vParam values to define the position on the surface where you want to evaluate.

After creating the node, connect a surface to the surface port. Use the uParam and vParam inputs to specify the evaluation point on the surface, where 0 is the start of the domain and 1 is the end.

On the output ports, we get:

point — the 3D point on the surface at the given {u, v} location.

normal — the normal vector at this point.

uDirection and vDirection — the tangent vectors in U and V directions at this point.

plane — a local coordinate system (plane) defined at the point with origin, normal, and two tangent directions.

This node is useful when you want to analyze local geometric properties of a surface at a specific parametric location.

See also

Surface Iso Curves
Face Normals