Scribbler
A Landscape Architect asked us for this one.
Scribbler makes randomized patterns over guidelines you draw. There are seven different patterns to choose from.
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Scribble patterns are customizable, to fit your style and the needs of your drawings.
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You can get a Free Trial copy of Scribbler here.
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Here's a video of Scribbler in action:
Here are Scribbler's built-in patterns. Use them as-is or modify them to suit your style.
How It Works
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Scribbler draws randomized patterns over lines, curves and shapes you make and puts the results into a group. When you erase or hide your original lines, just the Scribble is left.
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If you are clever with tags, you can trace the same guidelines over with different patterns (or the same pattern at a different scale) and keep each Scribble group on its own tag.
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Your pattern settings are saved for you, so you can use them on all your models.
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How to Use Scribbler
After installing Scribbler, there will be a new menu in your Extensions menu called "Scribbler." There is also a toolbar you can turn on that has buttons for Scribble, Rescribble, Settings, and Select Style.
The Scribbler menu has four commands: Scribble, Scribble Settings, Style, and About:
Scribble - First select the lines and curves you want scribbled, then use this command. Or click the Scribble button (the one with the green blob) on the toolbar. Or right-click and select Scribble from the pop-up menu. The selected lines and curves will be scribbled over using the current Scribble settings.
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Scribble Settings - Brings up the Scribbler Settings dialog. Or click the Settings button (the one with the gear) on the toolbar. Here is where you select the Pattern to use, the Scale and Smoothness of the pattern, whether to fill faces made when scribbling, and whether or not to erase the guidelines after a Scribble is made.
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When you click "OK" you will be taken to a settings dialog for the chosen pattern. Here, you can customize various parameters of your pattern.
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Here are the settings dialogs for each pattern:
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Styles - Styles are "recipes" that you create to save your custom Scribble settings. The Style submenu has three commands: Select Style, Save Style, and Delete Style.
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- Select - Choose the style you want to use from a pop-up menu of style names. All Scribbler settings, except Delete Guidelines, will be set to the parameters of the chosen style. There are built-in Styles that hold the factory default settings for each pattern.
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- Save - Asks you for a Style name, then saves the current Scribbler settings as a Style with that name. Congrats - you just made a new Style!
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- Delete - Not all Styles will be masterpieces. Feel free to delete the ones you don't need. It's easy to make more! Don't worry - the factory default Styles cannot be deleted.
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About Scribbler - Brings up a dialog box with information about Scribbler, and a button that takes you to this page.
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Tips, Tricks, and Other Stuff:
- Rescribble rocks! The problem with randomized patterns is that they don't always look like you want them to. That's where Rescribble comes in. Right after making a Scribble, if you don't like how it looks, just hit the Rescribble button (or right-click on the Scribble you just made to get a pop-up menu with the Rescribble command) and a new Scribble will take its place. You can even change settings and styles between rescribbles, even if Scribbler deleted the guidelines - great for getting that perfect look!
- The units of many parameters are whole inches (2.54 cm), but all patterns get scaled as needed to fit the guidelines. If you are looking for exact size repeating patterns, set min and max values to the same number, and use guidelines that are an even multiple of that number.
- The Wave is actually three different patterns, depending on how you set the min and max diameter values. If min and max Under Diameter are set to zero (0), you get the Cloud pattern. Set min and max Over Diameter to zero to get 'choppy' waves (the classic water level symbol), or a series of outward-pointing tips on bushes. Also, experiment with Arc Angle. A smaller angle will give you flatter arcs, while Arc Angles over 180 give a bulbous effect. Architects note: Set all the diameters to the same number and use an Arc Angle of 270 to get a wall insulation symbol!
- Experiment with each pattern's settings to get a feel for what they do. The default values are just starting points - feel free to express your personal style, then save them as Styles to use over and over again.
- Have ideas for other patterns? Features you would like to see? Let us know.
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Happy Scribbling!
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