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SiScatter

Posted: 09 Mar 2014, 15:19
by julca
Hello,

I just finished my last ICE plugin for Softimage, SiScatter.

This scatter tool distributes particles based on the "emTool _ Equal Distribution on Surface" Compound from Eric Mootz (thank you Eric !).
I tweak this compound to work together with "Delete Particles Near to Boundaries Edges", "remove closest geometry" and "remove inside filter" compounds.

This tool build an ICE Tree and create a custom property under the point cloud object to tweak all ICE parameters.
So you can edit entirely your scattering without open your ICE Tree.

List of avalaible modifiers :
- color by gradient
- color by shape id
- color by texture map
- filter by boundary edge
- filter by closest geo
- filter by fractal
- filter by random
- filter by slope
- filter by texture map
- filter by weight map
- filter by y altitude
- filter inside geo
- randomize color
- randomize position
- randomize scale
- randomize size
- randomize orientation
- fractal shape selection

Below a screenshot of the emission tab parameters :
You can edit the density or number as you want.
siScatter_emission.png
Below a screenshot of the emission tab parameters :
You have a feedback of the number and percentage of particles by shape.
You can add more weight to a specific shape (right parameter).
Here you can add, delete, change (set a generic or custom with a pick button) each shape.
siScatter_shape.png
You can see a demo video below.

If you have any questions I'm available to answer it.

I hope you like my last ICE plugin for Softimage because now, in light of recent (very bad) news, I have to say goodbye to ICE...
... and hello Fabric Engine !!!

Cheers and good luck everybody !

ps: On the side I just want to thanks Raffaele Fragapane (if he reads this message) for his good tutoriel on Pyhton "Technical Direction in XSI with Python" which will give me the opportunity to start coding more easily with Fabric Engine.


Edit: (version 1.1) :
- Ajust some Python declarations to work with Softimage 2013
- Little ajustment in the randomize scale filter (now readonly parameters update correctly on seed values)

Edit: (version 1.2) :
- Add a new emission parameter "Exact Shape Weight Sum" that drive the number of particles with the sum of all shapes's weight.
It also strictly set the number of shapes accordingly their weight.
- Correct update of shape info (number and percentage for each) when "Fractal Shape Selection" are enabled/disabled.

Edit: (version 1.3) :
- Correct a bug that reset density/number parameters when reopening the PPG property.

Edit: (version 1.4) :
- Add a new camera filter with individual control for each side.

Edit: Update link below (version 1.6) :
- Add a new Align tab option : Align with Border Edges
- Add a new filter option on "Filter C" tab : Neighbors delete
- Correct a bug on Texture Map
siScatter.rar
(220.89 KiB) Downloaded 324 times

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 09 Mar 2014, 20:11
by cheeseburger
Bravo julca ! .... Fantastic !

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 09 Mar 2014, 21:49
by Nox
Looks awesome!

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 09 Mar 2014, 22:11
by Pancho
So why would you want to stop using SI? As long as there is nothing comparable there is no sense in switching, isn't it?

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 09 Mar 2014, 23:51
by julca
Thank you for your comments ! :)
Pancho wrote:So why would you want to stop using SI? As long as there is nothing comparable there is no sense in switching, isn't it?
I'll still use a period, the time to choose the best alternative.
But with regard to development, it is clear that I prefer look into technology, such as Fabric Engine, which has more future (even if it's hard to let go ICE).

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 10 Mar 2014, 00:56
by FXDude
Very cool! Looks very easy!

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 10 Mar 2014, 01:08
by Bullit
You supposedly can use Fabric with Softimage so i think the XSI Force ;) will bring you back.

Either way many thanks for the plugin.

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 10 Mar 2014, 01:26
by punchatz
Simply great work!!! Cant see what you brew up in Fabric ....

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 10 Mar 2014, 09:54
by Rork
Very Cool, as all your other ICE tools!!

It would be sad to see you abandon ICE so quickly, but you already know FE is easily linked into SI ;)

Thanks for the tool, much appreciated!!!! :-bd

rob

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 10 Mar 2014, 10:08
by funky75
Really great Job!!
Does it work with Softi 2.12 Sp1, because I get an error..

Code: Select all

' ERROR : Traceback (most recent call last):
'   File "<Script Block 2>", line 84, in siScatter_equalize_Execute
'     siScatter.generic.createSiScatter(str("equalize"))
'   File "C:\Users\user\Autodesk\Softimage_2012_SP1\Addons\siScatter\Application\Plugins\..\..\Data\Scripts\siScatter\generic.py", line 54, in createSiScatter
'     compoundProp = xsi.GetICECompoundProperties(myIceShapeNode)
'   File "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Softimage 2012 SP1\Application\python\Lib\site-packages\win32com\client\dynamic.py", line 500, in __getattr__
'     raise AttributeError, "%s.%s" % (self._username_, attr)
' AttributeError: XSI.Application.GetICECompoundProperties
'  - [line 83 in C:\Users\user\Autodesk\Softimage_2012_SP1\Addons\siScatter\Application\Plugins\siScatter.py]
' ERROR : OLE error 0x80020101
siScatter_equalize
Thank You.
Naim.

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 10 Mar 2014, 12:02
by julca
Thanks all for your comment !
As you say, with FE I can still work with Softimage !
Does it work with Softi 2.12 Sp1, because I get an error..
I use the command "GetICECompoundProperties" which as been added from 2012 SAP (and does not exist on 2012 sp1).
But you can build manualy your ICE Tree (very easy) like the picture below :
iceTreeSiScatter.jpg
I use another command from 2012 SAP ("EditICECompoundProperties") in a Compound PPG Logic :
So for versions prior to 2012 SAP, you just need to edit the PPG code from the "siScatter _ Add Shape" Compound :
Right click on this compound -> "Compound Properties" -> click on button "PPG Logic..." -> and now copy paste the code from this text :
siScatter__Add_Shape_PPGLogic.zip
(617 Bytes) Downloaded 258 times
Just a note for versions from 2012 SAP :
You can also build your ICE Tree manualy and just add the filters you need.
After that, you can generate the custom property which show the only necessary parameters : ICE -> Create -> siScatter -> Edit/Regenerate Property.
Or the inverse, remove the filters/modifiers compound in the ICE Tree ("yellow" node) that you don't need and the custom property will be automatically updated.

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 11 Mar 2014, 04:05
by mc_axe
Hello Julca i installed on si 2013 64bit to get my hands on this wonderfull tool, and on create i got

Code: Select all

ERROR : Traceback (most recent call last):
#   File "<Script Block 2>", line 84, in siScatter_equalize_Execute
#     siScatter.generic.createSiScatter(str("equalize"))
#   File "C:\Users\Autodesk\Softimage_2013\Addons\siScatter\Application\Plugins\..\..\Data\Scripts\siScatter\generic.py", line 8, in createSiScatter
#     from siutils import sisel   # Selection
# ImportError: cannot import name sisel
#  - [line 83 in C:\Users\Autodesk\Softimage_2013\Addons\siScatter\Application\Plugins\siScatter.py]
Application.siScatter_equalize()
Has anything to do with 64 bits?

line 8 says something about 32 bits just saying :p not a programmer

Awesome again, i find this more usefull than crowd fx

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 11 Mar 2014, 07:26
by funky
Hi,
I'm wondering about 64bits too because i get same error on Softi 2013..

Thank you.
Naim.

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 11 Mar 2014, 09:57
by leo3d
Super Juju

Je crois que je vais l'utiliser souvent.
Une tuerie

J'espère qu'il marchera sur la 2015 car il se peux que je m'en serve un petit moment encore


A très vite

leo

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 11 Mar 2014, 10:14
by julca
@mc_axe, @funky, thanks for your feedback, I have updated version for working with softimage 2013 and make a little ajustment on display values.
See my first post for details and new download.


French side ;)
Meci léo ! Je suis content que ça te plaise !
Tiens moi au courant pour la 2015.
A plus !

Re: SiScatter

Posted: 11 Mar 2014, 16:18
by funky75
Parfait Julca!!!!
Merci pour ton excellent taf ;)

Naim.