Cineversity

OK, I hope I can explain this clearly…

I’m working on a project for event visualization. I use Cloners in Cloners to set up banquet tables with chairs, tableware etc, I do this regularly. But now I want to add people, but I am having trouble doing this in a random looking and efficient way. I have 14 different models each with 5 different textures so 60 iterations, a typical room may need 200-500 people. I was hoping for a way to distribute these across ALL the chair positions (not just one table that is repeated) using object mode but can’t workout how.

I have attached a simple scene example of what I am trying to do.

Any help appreciated.

Tom

Hi Tom,

Here is your file back, with the people seated and randomized:
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/cz9F6UoDsFm4gWs9TdPao3NIhOcAnz0Y6cbLpJGCJcO

I hope this idea works with your real scene. I have tried to keep it as simple as possible.

I have, via name search and apply the material, which added extra colors to the people. In this way, the random effect is even more significant. If you mix/blend this with your textures, gently, it will give you more control and variety in your scene. This is pretty much along the background city that I had developed a decade ago for an animation movie of mine.
https://www.cineversity.com/vidplaylist/jet_speed_modeling_city/speed-modeling_city_part_06

My best wishes for your project.

Your a legend Dr.Sassi!

Thank you
Tom

You’re very welcome, Tom, thanks for the over the top compliment.

Let me know if there is anything else, I’m happy to look into it!

Have a great start into your week!

I just made one tweak In case anyone is interested in a similar set up. I found that using Random for the people cloner I end with a high probability of the same clone appearing multiple times at the same table (as many as 4 out of 10 and even next to each other). So for more control I use Iterate and as long as you have at least 1 more People objects under the Cloner than the number of clones being generated at each table you are guaranteed not to have the same person appear at the same table and more of an appearance of randomness.

I have attached comparison images of Iterate v Random results.

Cheers
Tom

Good point, Tom. Thanks for bringing it up!

Iteration is a safe method, but it has two downsides. It uses only ten if there are more assigned as a child object, It keeps that sequence.

Since creating one table and cloning the whole table would have the same sequence than for each, a more complex set up would be needed.

Since you mentioned 60 different combinations above, I had no indication that there was a problem, so I focused on some slight variation to keep the needed 90 people different, which seemed comfortable with 60 already.

One option is given with the Random Effector, and its Sorted option. But also here, if a single table is done first, then cloned, the effect of the same sequence is perhaps noticeable. Rotating the tables as you have shown is very helpful.

Scene file
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/m2znQEXCp3gOkSiyRT3Ga7IJpaJQRqOUsK0nz7nPIu4

Since you have 14 models, perhaps changing six copies and populating four (e.g., 5+5+5+5 are four combinations with ten) tables might help even more. Well, it gets more complicated.

Scene file
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/m2znQEXCp3gOkSiyRT3Ga7IJpaJQRqOUsK0nz7nPIu4

https://help.maxon.net/us/#OERANDOMIZE-ID_MG_BASEEFFECTOR_GROUPEFFECTOR

Perhaps the textures are based on the same UV and could be distributed via MultiShader, which allows for a more substantial amount of combinations.

I’m happy to look into a given scene or idea, to discuss all possible setups would indeed bore you.

Cheers

Hi Dr. Sassi

I haven’t rotated the tables in the sample images. Each table is made up of a different assortment of the 12 clones and in different positions. I only have 12 unique colors and there are 10 per table, so a lot of the tables look like they are the same, but they actually have 1 or 2 different colored clones and all in different positions. So with this technique it seems the People Cloner in object mode does iterate through the Table Cloner with all 12 clones, not just repeating the first 10 onto every table. It is working great in my actual scene where I have 60 unique clones iterating through 1,500 copies. A trick is to avoid using colors that really stand out, it makes any repeats more obvious and even when they are unique clones. In the attached screen grab, the pink ones stand out and look like all repeats, but they are 3 different clones just using same or similar colors.

Regards
Tom

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the update. Yes, I see what you’re saying if the iteration goes through all seats. My comment was limited to the per table view.

I can’t see in the first 15 seconds a repetition, and after that, I might find some – but I was searching for it. Typically searching for patterns not the motivation of the target audience. So, I would say it is an excellent work.

My best wishes