Joining vector nodes in a vector layer

[Torrianthane]

I am "vector tracing" a logo in PSP, and exporting it to Motionstudio 3D for an explosion effect. I am currently able to do this with no issue, but the explosion effect (specifically the size and shape of the particles) is based on connecting the nodes in a vector object. For example, if I have a capital L made up of 10 nodes, the subsequent explosion effect with separate the L into particles based on the 10 nodes. What I want to do is have the various nodes that comprise the traced letter connect with constituent nodes in the center/surface-area of the letter to form a "grid" (in PSP) so that the subsequent explosion (after export to Motionstudio) is comprised of more/smaller particles. Can anyone help? Is there a way of not only having a vector object with "fill", but also having that "fill" made up of other vector data? I realize I am not the King of Explanations, but hopefully someone "gets me".

Thanks!

[LeviFiction]

Vectors in 3D and vectors in 2D tend to have very different rules for how points can be connected, though admittedly this is mostly up to the software.

PSP follows the SVG standard pretty closely in this regard. So a single node can only be connected to two other nodes. What you're looking to do cannot be done in PSP. If you want different vector contours to occupy the same space that is possible. But you cannot join them.

[Torrianthane]

Thanks for the response. So the other option then, having vector contours occupy the same space - how is this done (or is it too detailed to explain in typed response?

Thanks again.

[LeviFiction]

That just means you start a new contour (hitting the New contour or "Close contour" button) and make the nodes overlap. They don't join and it doesn't mean anything other than that the nodes are overlapping.

[Torrianthane]

Thanks. I am not sure if this is right or not, but I am having problems: I trace a portion of a raster image in a vector layer (a geometrical shape) then apply the changes; then I do the same adjacent to that in a new vector layer which overlaps the other layer by a couple pixels; I continue to do this above and adjacent to these shapes, overlapping by a few pixels, until a letter is shaped (a total of 6 vector layers). It looks good in PSP, but when I import it into MotionStudio there are "cracks" in the shape where I have overlapped the vector layers. The explosion effect applied is now exactly what I am looking for (smaller particles due to the "grid-type" distribution of nodes), but I need to eliminate the "cracks" in the shape that represent vector layer overlap.

Thanks!

[LeviFiction]

My big problem is I don't have MotionStudio 3D so I don't know how it interprets PSP vectors. I use an actual 3D program like Blender if I intend to do any 3D effects and such. So I am essentially grasping at straws from this point as for how it all works together.

Why are you doing it on separate layers?

A single Vector layer can hold multiple vector objects. And each object can hold multiple contours.

One option you might consider if you want them all to be a single object with overlapping contours is there is a script for merging selected vectors. Open your Script Toolbar if you haven't done so already. And select the script from the list. Ctrl + Click to select each of the different vector objects. Run the script and it'll create a new countour for each vector object in the exact location you made them.

Of course that assumes the cracks are caused by using separate vector layers and not that the vectors themselves are also offset enough to cause these cracks.

Something to consider, this is converting 2D to 3D so the values don't directly correlate. What you might notice if you zoom in on the image in PSP areas that appeared to be directly overlapping are actually offset slightly. What you could be seeing is that the nodes are not properly overlapped and when converted to 3D this becomes a lot more apparent. So try zooming in and seeing if you can't adjust the vectors to overlap more appropriately.