Automatic Pave

Automatic Pave

The Automatic Pavé command efficiently distributes gemstones of predefined sizes onto a surface. This distribution can be executed in two distinct modes:

1. Point-Based Mode – Users select a starting point on the surface from which the pavé pattern expands.
2. Edge-Based Mode – The distribution begins from the outer edges of the surface and progresses inward.

Additionally, the command provides the option to automatically generate the necessary prongs to secure the stones within the pavé, as well as the cutters (drill holes) to accommodate each gemstone in the design.

How it Works

When clicking on the Automatic Pavé icon, the command opens in the Artisan panel. The Selection panel has two selectors: the first, and required one, is the object where the pavé will be applied — a surface, polysurface, mesh or SubD object. The second one is optional and lets you pick gemstones that already exist in the document so they are taken into account by the distribution.

The Parameters panel is divided into three tabs:

Gems – Provides tools to create the pavé and set the parameters for gemstone sizes.

Prongs – Includes tools for generating the prongs that will secure the gemstones.

Cutters – Allows the creation of the drill holes for each gemstone in the pavé.

Below them, the Info panel reports the number of stones and their total weight in carats, and the Visualization panel holds the display toggles.

Gems

Within this tab, the first options available are the two gemstone distribution modes:

Point-Based Distribution

The pavé starts from a specific point defined by the user within the object’s surface.

Once the starting point is specified, a set of circles will appear, indicating where the gemstone distribution will begin and the direction of construction. A dark dot will be visible, which can be moved to adjust the distribution direction.

After setting the desired direction, right-clicking will confirm the adjustment and initiate the distribution calculations.

Once the mathematical distribution of the pavé is complete, users can begin the refinement process. It’s important to note that the automatic calculation and geometric distribution may not always align with aesthetic preferences.

To achieve a customized pavé, users can:

• Adjust gemstone sizes – Increase or decrease the size of specific stones.
• Lock selected gemstones – Fix the position of certain stones and recalculate the distribution while preserving them, allowing adjacent stones to adjust accordingly. Click on to unlock .
• Move gemstones – Shift individual stones, pushing neighboring ones to adapt to the new placement.
• Delete gemstones – Remove specific stones to fine-tune the design, or to add others.

Gem Sizes

The distribution only uses the sizes listed in the Gem Sizes box. Two buttons let you extend that list:

• Add a single size – type one diameter in millimetres.
• Add a range of sizes – give a Min, a Max and a Step, and every size from Min to Max is added in increments of Step.

Users can also manually add gemstones by selecting one of these predefined sizes and clicking on a point on the surface to place it. If a newly placed gemstone intersects with another, both gemstones will turn red, signaling areas that need adjustment. To resolve these intersections, users can:

• Move or resize gemstones to create more space.
• Refresh the command to recalculate and reposition the gemstones automatically.

At any point during the automatic pavé construction process, users can stop the process by clicking the Stop button, located at the top of the panel next to the Refresh button.

Symmetry and Editor

Four buttons apply symmetry to the construction of the pavé — None, mirrored along Y, along X, or along both axes — so that every change is reproduced on the mirrored side.

The last button of the row activates or deactivates the editor. With the editor on you can pick stones with the mouse, window-select several of them at once and drag them to a new position; with it off the clicks go back to Rhino.

Distances

• Min Distance – the minimum separation the gemstones must keep between each other.
• Border Distance – the margin kept between the outermost gemstones and the edge of the surface.

The Info panel shows the total number of gemstones in the pavé and their total weight in carats, and the Visualization panel lets you swap the display mode between real gemstones and circles, and toggle the gem size labels.

These features give users full control over the design process, allowing for both precise technical adjustments and aesthetic customization.

Edge-Based Distribution

In some cases, it is preferable to start the pavé construction by placing the outermost gemstones along the edge of the surface first. If users select this option, RhinoArtisan will first calculate the distribution of gemstones along the border and then progressively expand the pavé inward, maximizing surface coverage while maintaining the predefined spacing between stones.

Just like with Point-Based Distribution, users can:

• Pause the process at any time to manually add, block, or move gemstones before continuing with the distribution.
• Refine the pavé after the calculation by adjusting gemstone sizes, shifting individual stones, or adding new ones.
• Recalculate the distribution after making manual modifications to achieve an optimized layout.

This method provides greater control when designing pavé settings, ensuring that the most visible gemstones along the edges are positioned precisely before expanding the pattern into the surface’s interior.

Prongs

The Prongs tab provides tools for creating and adjusting prongs to secure gemstones within the pavé. It works just like the Dynamic Prongs command, offering both manual and automatic placement options.

Placement Modes

1. Add Prong: place prongs manually with your mouse, using the diameter defined below. While RhinoArtisan provides guidance, you have full control over the exact placement of each prong.
2. Remove Prong: remove any prong you don’t want by simply selecting it.
3. Automatic Prongs: RhinoArtisan places all the prongs of the pavé for you, using the diameter and height values below.
4. Prong Editor: toggles the interactive prong editor. With it on, hovering highlights the prong under the mouse; a click selects it, Shift+click adds more prongs to the selection, Ctrl+click removes one, and dragging from an empty spot draws a selection window. Drag any selected prong — or several at once — directly over the surface to reposition them (each prong keeps its own size and parameters), and press Delete to remove the whole selection.

With the editor on and prongs selected, the parameter fields below show the values of the selected prong and edit only the selection — change the diameter with three prongs selected and just those three change. With nothing selected, the fields set the values used for the next prongs, as usual.

Prong Parameters

Type selects the profile of the prong:

• Simple – a single Diameter value.
• Advanced – three diameters along the prong: Top, Base and Bottom.

The HEIGHT section contains:

• Over Girdle – how far the prong rises above the girdle of the stone.
• Under Girdle – how far the prong extends below the girdle.
• Extension for Manufacturing – extra length added at the base of the prong so it can be anchored into the piece.

Below the parameters, the same four symmetry buttons (None, Y, X and both) are available for the prongs, which is extremely useful for pieces that allow it, ensuring a balanced and aesthetically pleasing prong layout.

⚠ Note: Prongs will not be added along the outer edge of the pavé, as their placement depends on how the user wants to integrate them with the border. These prongs should be defined manually to suit the specific design needs.

Cutters

The Cutters tab provides advanced tools for drilling and shaping the necessary holes to accommodate gemstones within the pavé. It works similarly to our dedicated Cutter tool, offering precise control over the drilling process.

A Show Cutters toggle at the top of the tab turns the preview of the cutters on and off.

Cutter Configuration Parameters

Users can define how the cutter interacts with different parts of the gemstones, including the Crown, Pavilion, and Girdle. Except for Gem Inside, which is given in millimetres, all the values are percentages relative to the gem:

• Height Top (%) – Adjusts the height of the cutter at the uppermost part of the gemstone.
• Size Top (%) – Defines the width of the cut at the top, controlling how much material is removed.
• Height Crown (%) – Specifies the cutter height in the crown area (above the girdle), determining how deep the cut extends into this section.
• Gem Inside (mm) – Moves the cutter into or out of the gemstone, allowing for extended cuts if needed.
• Height Girdle (%) – Controls the cutter’s interaction with the girdle (the widest part of the gemstone), adjusting how it shapes this section.
• Size Drill (%) – Defines the drill size, affecting the overall diameter of the cut.
• Height Pavilion (%) – Sets the cutter’s height in the pavilion (the lower portion of the gemstone), allowing for precise shaping.
• Size Bottom (%) – Determines the width of the cut at the bottom of the gemstone, important for modifying the pavilion.
• Height Drill (%) – Adjusts the drill’s height, fine-tuning the cut depth.

Drill Shape Options

To accommodate different design requirements, users can choose from four drill shapes:

• Gem Shape – the cutter follows the outline of the gemstone itself. This is the default.
• Round
• Square
• Hexagon

Presets

Four preset buttons at the bottom of the tab load ready-made cutter configurations, a quick starting point that you can then fine-tune with the parameters above.

These flexible settings allow for highly customizable cuts, whether for functional adjustments or aesthetic refinements in the pavé structure.