John, Thanks for taking the time to reply.
I will do it the way that you describe if I have to. What I’m really hoping for, however, is suggestions for a way to generate the tendril pattern automatically with a program rather than ‘manually’ placing points which I then join by splines in a CAD software. I think it would be too hard, for me at least, to get a nice fairly uniform spacing by manual placement. I acknowledge though, that adding the leaf shapes will inevitably be a manual process. Steve On Sun, 16 Nov 2025 at 15:31, <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello Steve: > > > > You can draw this in Delta Cad. The spline tool can make the smooth gentle > curvy vine stems. The stem thickness can be changed by editing the line > thickness. The leaf outlines can be done the same way, or with the polygon > tool which you can edit to be filled with color (black in this case). > > > > Note that the different leaf shapes are repeated in the design of each > vine. This means that you can save time by copying and pasting leaves that > are the same, and you can rotate them into position. In fact, in your > sample drawing, you see that each vine is exactly the same. They are > repeated, like designs on wallpaper or gift wrapping. So an entire vine > can be easily duplicated, saving you a lot of work. > > > > If you find a design that you want to copy into DC, just import into DC a > .jpg copy of the design you like, then trace over it with DC lines (I use > red lines if tracing over black so I can see the DC line on top. When done, > remove the imported original and you have a DC version. > > > > It’s pretty simple if you are familiar with DC. You wrote some great DC > macros years ago, so I think you can do it. If not, I’d be happy to help > you with the design you’re working on. > > > > Hope this helps, > > > > John Carmichael > > > > > > > > *From:* sundial <[email protected]> *On Behalf Of *Steve > Lelievre > *Sent:* Sunday, November 16, 2025 2:24 PM > *To:* Sundial List <[email protected]> > *Subject:* Suggestions for tendril patterns > > > > Hi all, > > Anyone know of a computerized method (for Windows or as a website, or in > the worst case an algorithm) for generating the tendril/vine patterns > sometimes used to decorate the faces of sundials? > > I'm thinking of patterns something like this: > https://as1.ftcdn.net/jpg/02/80/01/88/1000_F_280018862_NIohBeFl2wXhIs4e9f2usvMiOT4QcKop.jpg > > [image: Seamless pattern. Thin delicate twigs with leaves isolated on > white background. Texture for print, wallpaper, home decor, textile, > package design Stock Vector | Adobe Stock] > > Maybe some kind of fractal generator would do it? There are plenty of > fractal tree generators but I can't find one that does tendril patterns. > > I also wondered if a maze generator could give me something to start from. > I found a nice one at https://codebox.net/pages/maze-generator/online > > If I set it to do a hexagon maze, I get patterns that might provide a > starting point but I can't figure out a way to make smooth curves out of > the longer sections. Conversely, if I do a square maze, I can't see how to > add a bit of waviness to the branches. > > Last point, I would prefer SVG output over image format (PNG might work, > JPG would almost cause give blurred edges). > > > > Cheers, > > Steve >
--------------------------------------------------- https://lists.uni-koeln.de/mailman/listinfo/sundial
