Cineversity

Is there an easier way to generate particles along a spline than this - maybe now we’re on v15? Unless you know all the meanings and subtleties of Xpresso terminology, following this is very difficult. I’m completely lost here being a designer, not a programmer!

Hi Chris.French,

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, for the pure designer heart this might not taste well. The “drill” here was to find a simpler version than the provided “Presets” versions. (I do not critique here the presets, as they targeting a simple use, but do not care at all that anyone understand the inner mechanic of those—in the first place ;o)

The tutorial has nothing left of its usefulness, even done in 2007. The options haven’t changed really. So, having all of that out of the way, let’s go for a moment into a simper version, even thought that is not a question that should be answered here in the “Tutorial Discussion Thread”, it would fit more into Cineversity Q&A. I hope other readers of this forum get not upset while I put some “forums-noise” here.

Along the Spline with MoGraph.

Take any Spline and place it as Object > Mode >Object into a Matrix Object. Set up the Matrix Object to Generate>Thinking Particles. Apply any Effector that you like to it. Probably the next step is to set the Particle Priority>After Effectors. So they are influenced by the Effectors in the Matrix Effector List.

The TP Group needs to be provided as well, if the TP will be used later on in an TP set up.

I created a simple set up here. The particles move along the spline based on the Object>Rate setting, the Random Effector does the distance and micro-movement.

https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share?s=_6T-1M9_RCMtYzopuumjTw

There might be sometimes some limitations, as you move between two independent systems, and that might cause some Priority concerns, to mention a downside of mixed systems. So far I can tell, these Particles are created each frame newly, which limits the options perhaps.

The main question is, what do you like to do with it, perhaps MoGraph is a better place to start with anyway. If there is a question, please start a new thread in the Cineversity Q&A forum, to keep things organized, thank you.

All the best

Sassi

Many thanks Sassi.
I’m new to the forum so wasn’t sure where to post my question. I’ll use the Q&A next time.
Chris.

You’re welcome, Chris! :o) Please don’t worry about me mentioning the Forums-Logic, it’s nearly nothing, but I like to keep it organized, so everyone knows what to exclude or include while searching.

I’m happy to find alternative ways, as they lead perhaps to new ideas again. :o) Good luck with exploring the options. BTW, I explored XPresso always when I had time to play with it, with no need at all for a project. After a while I got used to it. That was way back in time, today I don’t want to miss this option. ;o)

Example scenes, or better—Presets can be found here:

http://www.maxon.net/support/materials-goodies.html