TD-Tool
thinkingParticles can be seen as a highly specialized tool allowing you
to do everything one can dream or imagine. However, to unleash all the
power thinkingParticles offers; some training and a good background of
physics, math and animation methods is needed. Due to the complex matter
that thinkingParticles can do, it is not likely that every 3D artist is
able to or even willing to learn thinkingParticles to the extent needed.
The introduction of the TD-Tool finally offers the functionality to build
a production pipeline that allows you to integrate thinkingParticles into
a studio work flow with a mixed or changing staff of animators. One or
more thinkingParticles specialists can easily create a self contained
particle system with user exposed settings and controls, the average animator
is fully released from any training or learning stress. A TD-Tool setup
will allow you to expose only those parameters to the user that he needs
to see or know. There are 2 possible uses for the TD-Tool:
Create a simple 3ds Max conformed user interface
for a complex DynamicSet
Create a closed, self-contained particle system
that can be easily created like any other 3ds Max particle system
The method to create the particle system setups, described above, is
always the same. However, to create a self-contained particle system as
listed in option 2, an emitter type needs to be specified.
Whenever a DynamicSet is selected, it offers a main set of controls that
represents the "TD-Tool". The controls along with the interface
are shown below.
Group - this control defines the particle group that should be
stored along with the DynamicSet when saved as a black box. (setting this
option is no longer needed! This is an option for compatibility with old
scenes, only)
Emitter - defines the Emitter type to be used for "easy click"
particle systems. When an emitter type is chosen, a set of parameters
is automatically added as DynamicSet Inputs (see image above). A rectangle
emitter was chosen in the example above, along with X, Y, Z ports, to
specify the dimensions that have been automatically added to the DynamicSet
input ports. Those ports automatically appear in the None Tree-View section
of the Rollups list.
Name - specifies a particle name that will be used when an emitter
is created. This option is only valid when an emitter type is chosen.
Rollups List Box - displays all available rollup menus for this
DynamicSet. Standard windows Drag and Drop mouse operations allow you
to sort or re-organize the appearance of the menu sections or parameters.
Add Roll. - when pressed a new Rollout-Menu will be added to the
list of menus. A single long click will allow you to rename the newly
created menu.
AddPort - adds an input port to the selected menu section. Several
different input ports are available from the list and every port may also
be renamed, with a single long click on its name.
Remove - removes the selected port or menu entry.
From - sets the minimum value that the port can have.
To - sets the maximum value a port should be able to get.
Percent - turns the value into a percentage instead of a plain
number value.
Control - is a context sensitive drop down menu that shows the
available UI options for a given port. Depending on the type of port,
there may be several user interface options to choose form. An integer,
for example, may be a simple single value or a multiple value check box
or list box .
Tip
The starting value of a UI element can be easily set when the UI interface
is displayed in the rollout. The value set there will be used whenever
this interface is created for the first time.
Example
The example shown above, uses the described method (1) to expose some easy
controls from the DynamicSet to the user. By dragging the connections
from the Born-Node to the DynamicSet input port, new values are created.
Those values appear automatically in the Rollup list box under None (2).
By dragging the Birth Type and Count to the My Rollout menu section the
UI elements appear. Some simple adjustments to the Birth Type integer
value allow you to create a simple (3) Radio Button control. Now, when
someone clicks the DynamicSet the easy User Interface is displayed.
To learn more check out the Tutorial:
Making a TD-Tool Fountain Particle System