Cineversity

Hi Dr. Sassi, how are you today?-I know how to you Pblurp to morph one polygon object into another, but is there any other way? I exp. a bit w. polyFX, inheritance effector, etc , but the effect w/Pblurp is what I have in mind. My problem is, I want to morph a “brain” object, it has about 36,000 polys, and I want to morph that into a butterfly object-I took 3 butterfly models and connected them-there total polys is only 2,500 or so, and I am not quite getting the effect that I want-the polyFX effector is an effect that I desire, but I am afraid that what I want to achieve, may not be possible-I can always composite in after effects, but thought maybe I can get this effect in on 3D scene. Any thoughts?, or am I trying to do the impossible? ; )-thanks in advance for your reply, Craig

Hi Craig,

Thanks I’m fine, I hope you as well!

You said you know the PBlurb, so I shouldn’t start there, but it is a forum and some might be new to it. The PBlurb works like two explosion effects with the particles flying from a to b (or vice versa). It is by no means a polygon morph effect. A reason why I point this out is simple, and I guess you know it already, it is an illusion. To my knowledge there is no option that would take polygons from one object to the next, and keep triangles and quads separated as well duplicating polygons if needed (or dividing)

The question would be—is the “particle stream” the part you are after or is it a morph effect?

I mentioned it before, we are magicians when it comes to effect animations. It is not so much to do it as in reality, it is more to do it believable. Having said that, how about that: You split the Brain in three parts (as you said it should go into three Butterflies). Then you use the Camera deformer to one of the three parts of the brain and pull it to the butterfly one, a little bit more than half the way. The butterfly itself becomes treaded in the same way, but reverse with a new Camera Deformer. To get this effect more manageable I would not suggest to use PLA (Point Level Animation)—I would suggest to go for each “state” of the deformation with a PoseMorph>Pose. The points of the camera deformer can be dragged with a Magnet, and if done nicely with the PoseMorph (set to points) you can direct your scene beautifully. (Set the amount of segments in the Camera Deformer before you start working with them! No Change in count after the Pose Morph is working for you.)

There is nothing that speaks against adding a PolyFX to the mix. (Magicians use distractions to cover the needed steps… ;o) 

I hope that makes sense.

The beauty of the CameraDeformer is given in its easy way to use, and its interactive way of deforming objects dramatically. Perhaps you give it a shot.

All the best

Sassi

The file shows the transition, or better no transition from Sphere to Cube, just by dissolving via polygon. With the right amount of movement no problem.

https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share?s=o7XrqVAtRXgisjL-FfdJHw

P.S.: Here is a rough (!) sketch. Even rough, it might explains it much faster. You might work with an animated transparency for the morph-crossing point.

https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share?s=uZuNKkfeS1YlhvnEq-xwpY

Press play and watch. (Don’t move the Deform-cam.)

P.S.2.: A version with PolyFX ;o)

https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share?s=Ss5FNVzyR1ItmTy2qh4Tt0

Thanks Dr. Sassi, I will investigate-your time is always appreciated, Best, Craig

You’re welcome Craig.

The Camera Deformer, should be done with more care than my sketch. I used something like a “potato” as step between. Perhaps you might “paint” with the Magnet tool the part A in the morph already more in the shape of object B. (... and object B more in the shape of A)

Most Morphing methods work in that way, each object adapts somehow the appearance of the other and then “you” blend between both.

PBlurb and other deconstructive-flow options are not really morphing, they use something in the middle to cover it up ;o) I was not certain if I made that point above clear. You might differentiate since ever in such, but again, this is a forum and I like to answer a little bit broader.

My best wishes

Sassi

Another little idea to get the PBlurb idea translated. Here only part A to keep it clear.

https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share?s=hrgHR9KZRBorjyIqBHuCQ4

Thanks Dr. Sassi, I am digesting this now-I never thought to use a spline to drive the breaking up of the polygons, thank you for the revelations!-CZ

Enjoy the tests, Craig.

The idea to play with the falloff is perhaps a way to go. You could use even a simple “Particle-Emmitter”, to get something done.

I avoided to go into Thinking Particles, as it can become very fast very complex. Well, the two main directions here (PolyFX and Camera Deformer) can be mixed and might create a result that doesn’t give the procedure away.
Going though animations based on working in 3D since two decades, one thing stands out widely, most work is not created to use the options of montage/edit. Certainly an area with a lot of magic.
I think since long to go along the post production parts with an emphasis of 3D production of course—in a course ;o)

Good luck with the project

Sassi