About Pattern Member Spacing Options
In Fill, Curve, and Point patterns, the sketch that defines the pattern lies on a flat plane, while the surface on which the pattern members lie may not be flat. The following options are available for pattern members on the surface:
As projected
Map to Surface Space
Map to Surface UV Space
Spacing Pattern Members as Projected
When you select this option, the pattern leader and the pattern members are projected straight onto the surface. No adjustments are made in the spacing. Pattern members that cannot be projected onto the selected surface are removed from the pattern.
Mapping Pattern Members to the Surface Space
When you select this option, the pattern leader is projected straight onto the surface. The pattern members are mapped from the sketch plane to the surface space so that the surface spacing matches the sketch spacing. You can select this option to produce more even member spacing on a surface when the sketch or template uses equal spacing.
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A region of the surface that is separated from the pattern leader by a boundary is not populated by pattern members.
When you map members to a spherical surface in a Fill pattern with a Circle or Spiral template, the pattern leader becomes the pole location of the sphere. The number of pattern members is reduced automatically in the region beyond the equator to maintain the surface spacing.
The Map to Surface Space spacing option is only available for solid surfaces.
Mapping Pattern Members to the Surface UV Space
When you select this option, the pattern leader is projected straight onto the surface. The pattern members are mapped from the sketch plane to the UV space of the surface so that the surface spacing matches the sketch spacing.
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To create an evenly-spaced pattern, surface UV lines must be evenly spaced.
At the pole of a sphere, UV line densities are infinite and you cannot map to them.