[Edu-sig] Platonic / Archimedean / Catalan Solids in Blender

[Lee Harr]

Hi;

I know some of you like exploring geometry with Python.

The latest Blender 2.57 includes a python add-on for generating
a huge list of different types of geometric solids.


To try it out, you need to enable the add-on.

- start Blender
- click on File -> User Preferences...
- click on Add Ons near the top
- click on Add Mesh on the left
- check Add Mesh: Regular Solids
    (Also, look around. Many other cool things available.)
- close User Preferences window
- click on Main menu -> Add -> Mesh -> Solids
   (Can select specific solid, or just choose solid.
    Panel will open on the left allowing real-time adjustments)


So, now you may be interested in how this is done with Python.

- in top menu, next to Help menu, mouse over until it says "Choose Screen lay-out"
- click and choose Scripting
- top left panel is Text editor, click Text -> Open
- browse to blender install directory
- click 2.57 -> scripts -> add-ons -> add_mesh_solid.py


The scripts seem to be pretty well commented.
You can make changes, click "Run Script" and a new
menu will appear alongside the Solids menu running
your changed code.