Shells

This command allows you to create ones shell(s) which be used then to create Eroding shapes.

Creation stages / Use:

Click the icon or select the Electrode > Shells... command from the drop-down menu.

Select the shell(s) faces with one of the two available modes:
- Edges: This mode allows you to select the faces included in the isolated area from the selecting edges.
- Faces: This mode allows you to select the wantes shell(s) faces.
Validate

The faces selected are automatically sewn. If these selections are not connected, several shells will be created.

This command is available only in the Electrodes stage in the Electrode document.

Available options:

Shells:

Two selection modes of the shell faces are available:
Edges: This mode allows you to click on the shape to erode the edges which will isolate the wanted shell.
It is possible to select them edge by edge, or, with the picking selection, select the tangent edges to the chosen one, or the loop connected to this edge. It is also possible to drag the balls from the end of the open edges path on the new path of edges to add. Furthermore, the button allows you to imprint a missing edge on the shape to erode if it is needed.

The selection need to comply the two following rules. It must be closed and must isolate an area completely:


The edge path is open. It is not sufficient to define a shell.	The edge selection is not sufficient to define a shell.	The selection is sufficient to define a shell.

Faces: This mode allows you to choose on the shape to erode the wanted faces of the shell.
It is possible to select them face by face, but it is also possible, with the picking selection, to select the tangent faces to the chosen one, or the pocket faces connected to this face. From the context menu on the pocket faces or tangent faces, it is possible to Explode these selections. All the faces of the selection are selected individually. It is then possible to remove a few faces from the selection.
Furthermore, the button allows you to imprint a missing edge on the shape to erode if it is needed or allows you to select the faces on the shape to erode by color.

Fill holes:

Holes edges: It allows you to list the holes to be filled. It is possible to select several holes to be filled at the same time. Unclosed openings can also be automatically filled in simple cases.

Method: This option is only available for holes with a closed edge loop.
Shift: When the faces connected to the edges of the holes to be filled are not in the hole plane, it is possible to shift the face created to fill the hole. The connected faces will be extended:

Filled hole

Filled hole with shift

Removing eroded faces:

This option allows you to delete on the shape to erode the selected faces to create the shell.

Heal type: Several types of healing are available, identical to those of the Removing command.


Selection of shell faces	Removing of the selected faces.

Advanced options:

Explode selections: This option allows you to split selections of the pocket faces or tangent faces type. All the faces of the selection are selected individually. It is then possible to remove a few faces from the selection.

Splitting a pocket faces or tangent faces selection is irreversible. The faces can no longer be re-associated with a pocket faces or tangent faces selection.

Eroded area color: This option allows you to apply, on the shape to erode, the created shells by coloring its faces with the chosen color.

Modifications / Additional information:

The shells created are automatically inserted in the set Shells. This set is automatically created in the file if no shells was created before.