Hay now that's great, especially all the customization flags and variables! One
suggestion though. The wood to the end of the pencil, the sharpened end, should
not be banded like that, instead rotate the wood texture so the band runs up and
down along the y axis, also scale it down a bit. And another thing is the
pencils in this picture are too fat. I know that with the macro its just a
matter of changing some variables, but you asked for comments on how to improve
them. Other than this you've done a great job!

Charles Krause wrote:

> Ok - there are a number of pencil models available - but none that did JUST
> what I wanted. So I whomped up this one.
>
> _everything_ is controlled by a parameter, and the size is strictly
> controllable, known, and it even gives you the bounding cylinder for the
> pencil. You should be able to place the models this macro creates precisely
> in a scene.
>
> Attached are a few examples, all pencils are created  by the same macro,
> just with different parameters.
>
> Any suggestions at how to improve these models is much appreciated.
>
> NOTE : this combines the ideas of several models as well as a few original
> ideas, and some staring are real pencils. I could not have done this, had
> other people not written, and published their models. Thank you.
>
> Parameters to date
> ------------------------
>
> The pencil has it's sharpened point at <0,0,0>, extends in the +y direction,
> and is completely bound by cylinder
>  <0,0,0>,<0,pencil_length,0>,pencil_radius }
>
> FLAGS
>
> Round : If yes, make the pencil round, else, make a hexagonal body.
>
> Sharpened : If yes, trim the pencil body and lead with the shear_cone to
> make a pointed pencil. Otherwise, the pencil will be 'brand-new'
>
> Eraser : If yes, shorten the pencil body, add an eraser, and add an eraser
> sleeve. The total length of the pencil still equals pencil_length.
>
> Painted : If yes, slap a coat of paint on the pencil (see Matched flag), if
> not, leave it bare wood_texture.
>
> Matched : If yes, make the pencil's paint the same color as it's lead. If
> not, make the paint paint_texture.
>
> VARIABLES
>
> pencil_radius : The outside radius of the pencil. if the round flag is set,
> this will be the radius of the cylinder, if not, the hexagonal prism that
> makes up the body of the pencil will be inside this cylinder, making the
> midpoints of the sides _less_ distant from the center.
>
> pencil_length : this is the total length of the pencil, including eraser, if
> included.
>
> lead_radius : the radius of the cylindrical lead inside the pencil body.
>
> cone_taper : this is the measure of the angle (in radians) of the 'sharp
> point' of the pencil. Lower values will make the cone narrower, and make the
> sharpened part longer.
>
> Eraser_length : The length of the rubber eraser on the end of the pencil.
> Partially hidden by the metal sleeve.
>
> wood_overlap : the amount the metal sleeve fits over the wooden shaft of the
> pencil
>
> eraser_overlap : the amount the metal sleeve fits over the eraser.
>
> spacing : the gap between the ends of the eraser sleeve, and the beginning
> of the ridged sections. Note : the way that the ridges are constructed
> sometimes means the gap on the eraser side is less. This only occurs if the
> ridged region is not of a length that is a multiple of 2*ridge_radius.
>
> ridge_radius : the radius of the individual torus ridges on the metal eraser
> sleeve.
>
> band_width : the width of the painted band in the middle of the eraser
> sleeve. Can be set to zero if no such band is desired.
>
> metal_thickness : the thickness of the eraser sleeve.
>
> Textures
>
> paint_texture : the texture used for the coat of paint, if the pencil is
> painted, and if the matched flag is not set.
>
> lead_texture : the texture used for the pencil lead, and the paint_texture
> IF the matched flag is set.
>
> Wood_texture : the texture of the wood body of the pencil. NOTE : this is
> the texture of the sharpened surfaces, and the trimmed ends only. If the
> pencil is trimmed by CSG, the body of the pencil will show the
> paint_texture.
>
> eraser_texture : the texture of the eraser, if present.
>
> holder_texture : the texture of the eraser_sleeve, if present
>
> band_texture : the texture of the painted band on the eraser sleeve, if
> present.
>
> ---------------------------------
>
> I would like to add the ability to put writing on the side of the pencils
> before I post the actual macro, provided there is interest.
>
> Suggestions anyone?
>
>  [Image]

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