emPolygonizer - metaballs for SOFTIMAGE

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Mootzoid
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Re: emPolygonizer - metaballs for SOFTIMAGE

Post by Mootzoid » 08 Aug 2009, 12:38

Thanks guys!

The standard way to get the update is to simply wait, as I sent it per mail. My web page doesn't have any fancy web shop or password stuff, so I deliver the updates manually ;)

cheers
Eric

PS: I will send the update some time today

Letterbox
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Re: emPolygonizer - metaballs for SOFTIMAGE

Post by Letterbox » 08 Aug 2009, 16:58

Eric, a suggestion.

If you take the ICE strands example, and you change it from Basic Marching Cubes to Simple Primitive, there are three choices. Tetrahedron, Cube and Dodecahedron. It would make it much more powerful and give many more creative possibilities if could have a pick or group - that was used to drive the geometry.

A question...
When I do change the ice strands example from Basic Marching Cubes to Simple Primitive, and view or render the normals? smoothing? seems to be off somehow, or is it i've been staring a screen for far too long.

Haven't got a lot more time right now to test and try it out, but it really looks much much better. And I thought I give you some feedback.

Cheers
Terry

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Mootzoid
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Re: emPolygonizer - metaballs for SOFTIMAGE

Post by Mootzoid » 09 Aug 2009, 13:51

Hi Terry, thanks for the feedback.
Your suggestion to use Groups to drive the geometry when using the "Simple (as Primitive)" algorithm has been added to the "To-Do" list of the next update.
Concerning your question: I don't exactly understand what you mean, but maybe this can help: the polygon mesh with the emPolygonizer operator has a "Geometry Approximation" property in which the "Automatic Discontinuity Angle" is disabled, so that for example rendered cubes almost look like spheres. Did you mean that?

Letterbox
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Re: emPolygonizer - metaballs for SOFTIMAGE

Post by Letterbox » 11 Aug 2009, 13:44

Hello Eric,

I found out what that strange problem was, it seems when you use the "simple primitives" option, the 'automatic discontinuity' by default is not checked on, and so gives that weird shading/rendering look, if ones goes to the emPolgonizer, and change the geometry approximation -> poly mesh > automatic, and check it ON, then the problem goes away.

Maybe you can add that to the list, as by default si does do that with all created geometry. Maybe when you call it programatically it does not?

Cheers
Terry

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CiaranM
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Re: emPolygonizer - metaballs for SOFTIMAGE

Post by CiaranM » 11 Aug 2009, 17:10

Looks like a great release. Congrats, Eric!
Hey, if you're still pondering cache file formats, The GTO format looks pretty interesting.

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Mootzoid
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Re: emPolygonizer - metaballs for SOFTIMAGE

Post by Mootzoid » 11 Aug 2009, 18:47

@ Terry :
actually, I am the one disabling the Automatic Discontinuity, he he ;) But you're right, it makes more sense to use SI's default. I put it on the "to-do" list of in the next update. Thanks!

@ CiaranM :
I plan to support the ICE cache file format in the next update. But I'll take a look at GTO as well. Do you know if it is a widely supported format? Wouldn't want to waste time implementing a format hardly any programm supports.

janimatic
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Re: emPolygonizer - metaballs for SOFTIMAGE

Post by janimatic » 31 Aug 2009, 12:52

hey eric,

it looks really great, but i have a question
Can i use only one license to write the cache and use your operator to read the cache on all the renderfarm without additional license ?

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Mootzoid
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Re: emPolygonizer - metaballs for SOFTIMAGE

Post by Mootzoid » 31 Aug 2009, 12:56

Hi Janimatic,

no, that's not possible. Please contact me per mail (you should have my address) and we'll figure something out ;)

best,
Eric

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Re: emPolygonizer - metaballs for SOFTIMAGE

Post by Mootzoid » 20 Sep 2009, 22:35

Hi,

I just added a new emPolygonizer example animation.
A dozen particles with strands and half a torus... here a screenshot:

Image

Here's the link to watch the anims: emPolygonizer - Strands (example 6)

Cheers!
Eric

PS: The scene used to capture and render the anims is included in the demo scenes.

Letterbox
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Re: emPolygonizer - metaballs for SOFTIMAGE

Post by Letterbox » 21 Sep 2009, 12:28

That look like some kind of warped fetus

:ymsick:


No more need be said.. :D

Cheers
Terry

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Werner
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Re: emPolygonizer - metaballs for SOFTIMAGE

Post by Werner » 06 Feb 2010, 08:06

Hope this is the right place to ask.

We are using this on a project, but are getting flickering results on the mesh generated. What would be the best way to get rid of it?

I upped the detail, emmited more particles and a couple of other thiings but still sit with the noisy mesh.

Any ideas?

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Mootzoid
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Re: emPolygonizer - metaballs for SOFTIMAGE

Post by Mootzoid » 06 Feb 2010, 10:27

Hi Werner,

set the value of "Smooth Mesh Strength" to zero. This should considerably reduce the flickering.

Here my suggestion for all parameters in the tab "main":
Isolevel: as you wish
Detail: higher values
Blur Isofield Strength: something above zero, even try a value of one, just to see.
Blur Isofield Iterations: make this about the same as the value of "Detail".
Smooth Mesh Strength: "0"

Hope this helps you a little!

Cheers,
Eric

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Werner
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Re: emPolygonizer - metaballs for SOFTIMAGE

Post by Werner » 08 Feb 2010, 09:21

Thanks Eric,

Thanks for the tip...I will make sure it's passed along to the guy working on it. I did a quick test and your settings seemed to make a difference.

Thanks again and awesome work on emFluid and emRPC. Will make sure we George here at Luma buys it today.

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