Cineversity

Hello Sassi, I hope you are well.

I’m looking for suggestions on how to automatically create and connect a linear spline between all vertices of a given object.

I’ve attached a screenshot as an example but I was unable to complete creating the splines that would cross on each face..hope it makes some sense as to what I’m trying to achieve…

Many thanks,
David

Hi David,

Thank you, I’m fine, I hope you as well.

I have had sent you an upload link instantly after you posted. Would you mind to use the provided upload link, so I can see the image?

Sorry about our current glitch in the forum’s software, so no files can be used, at least I can’t get anything from it.

Cheers

Thank you Sassi, I have now uploaded the image. Please let me know if you need any further clarification. Kind regards, David

Thanks a lot, David.

I know that I have had created this with some iterations in XPresso a while ago, but I for now I will MacGyver someone else’s idea.
Here is at least my Xpresso version of it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxzrxR61RgU
…and the screen shot, I will check tomorrow if I can make it shareable, i.e., easy to adapt.
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/MhXJR5H7bFjXgLCjJ3ZYS9dYjk3m32AtjxTcj6ko1kx

There are no default options to do this in Cinema 4D.

Here is an idea I saw a few years ago:
https://www.entagma.com/creating-geometry-with-python-in-c4d/
The link with the plug-in suggestion is a dead end, but if you google the name, you will find an Australian Company that provides this now.
The coder of that plugin presented for Maxon in 2013:
https://www.cineversity.com/vidplaytut/siggraph_2013_rewind_gene_magtoto
https://helloluxx.com/product/ubertracer2/

I have taken the Python Node script from Manuel Casasola Merkle and deleted the Thinking-Particle parts.
(BTW: He has an excellent course over at FXPHD C4D 214). So I hope I have given enough credit

To make this work, you need to drag your object into the Matrix Object. I show you how it works here, including a scene file.

Screen capture, scene file
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/2xFeL1Bu6IJbos6KgUnWprvjBlzfNh3h2qEeFu93yQ

Do not forget to switch the Matrix and/or the Xpresso off after the Spline creation.

Please test this carefully as expected with all provided material here.

All the best

Thank you Sassi, that’s put some perspective on it now. Thanks for sharing the math course, the theory topics (Euclidean, pythagorean etc are appealing).

Please can you confirm that Thinking particles is required for the scene/script to work? I tried it but when I pressed play it did not generate the splines.

Either way, this is exactly the outcome I was looking for, David.

Hi David,

Yes, Thinking particles was the core idea of Manuel, to use the PPassAB, as it compares all particles with itself if the same group is applied for A and B. The downside is, it puts a spline on point x and y, but also one on y and x; So twice. This is a problem this needs more attention.

I’m not aware that I have talked about math, what do I miss? I love math, but I try to avoid it in this forum as much as possible, it is not the most liked theme to talk about, going by 15 years of forum’s experience.

I will have a look in my Xpresso version, a non-particles version of it, but it is less comfortable to use. The plugin mentioned seemed much more fun to use, but for a price…

All the best

David, here is my Xpresso set-up for this. I would call it a beta version, as I have tested it only a short time.
I have set up some user data, so the needed object can be dragged into fields, instead of dragged onto nodes.

I have recorded a screen capture, and please find as well the file that I have used to record this.
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/XPAm7vrLMUGleyPRRvKfPhSkEbOyiMyBIjw0cJ063hr

In short:
First, you need an object. This object has a fixed amount of points. (E.g., 8)
This object then needs a certain amount of spline-segments. (Points times points. E.g., 8*8)
Both dragged into the fields.
Press play and adjust the distance.

The details are in the screen capture.

This set up produces for each connection two splines. To get this sorted out, the set up would be much bigger.

Please test this carefully as expected with all provided material here.

My best wishes

V2

I have placed an UserData Interface to it and created a faster way to produce the needed spline segments. In the screen capture below, you will find two walk-through examples. I hope that helps to make it work for you.

Screen capture and scene file.
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/daAbrKBK78gNW7kwCkoOYKy6VjTTsd0nZURIjaMnpMY

Again, this is a beta version at best, please test this carefully.

At this point, I hope it will work for you. If you need more, consider perhaps the plugin, I pasted a link in the post #3 (I do not have used it!)

ENJOY