JD Sprite Scatter
Version 1.0 - Last updated sometime in January 2008
Version 1.0 - Last updated sometime in January 2008
What does it do?
This script will scatter sprite geometry (polygon planes) between the two selected surface points, align them to a chosen camera, and hook them up to some basic custom animation attributes.
Why?
I was experimenting on how to create some quick rendering grass that fit a cartoony style and I wanted to create varying patches of sprites, with different sizes, rotations, densities, and all that other good stuff in various locations around my scene, doing it by hand would of taken too long, and I wanted my partner on this project to have some artistic influence on the placement of the sprites as well without getting everyone bogged down in mindless repetitive tasks. Sorry for the run on sentence!
How do I use it?
First thing to do as with most scripts would be to copy the script to your script directory, then restart maya (or use the rehash command) Then follow these steps:
1. Run the command "jdSpriteScatter();" (without quotes) or make a button out of it. A window will pop-up.
2. Select two surface points on a nurbs surface. The area between these two points will be the scatter area.
3. Make sure the constraint camera (the camera you wish the sprites to be aligned to) is set properly.
4. Adjust any of the other parameters you want to.
5. Hit the scatter button.
6. The sprites will be created under a group called "spriteGroup" this group contains a few custom attributes which will let get up and running with some basic swaying animation fairly quickly.
7. Apply your materials and enjoy.
I'm lazy, can you show me something created with it?
Yes! I can show you something that was created in part with this script. The following quicktime file is a test I did for a project I'm working on. The sprites used for the grass in this shot were created and animated with the above script. Nothing too fancy here, but it shows it can work.
This script will scatter sprite geometry (polygon planes) between the two selected surface points, align them to a chosen camera, and hook them up to some basic custom animation attributes.
Why?
I was experimenting on how to create some quick rendering grass that fit a cartoony style and I wanted to create varying patches of sprites, with different sizes, rotations, densities, and all that other good stuff in various locations around my scene, doing it by hand would of taken too long, and I wanted my partner on this project to have some artistic influence on the placement of the sprites as well without getting everyone bogged down in mindless repetitive tasks. Sorry for the run on sentence!
How do I use it?
First thing to do as with most scripts would be to copy the script to your script directory, then restart maya (or use the rehash command) Then follow these steps:
1. Run the command "jdSpriteScatter();" (without quotes) or make a button out of it. A window will pop-up.
2. Select two surface points on a nurbs surface. The area between these two points will be the scatter area.
3. Make sure the constraint camera (the camera you wish the sprites to be aligned to) is set properly.
4. Adjust any of the other parameters you want to.
5. Hit the scatter button.
6. The sprites will be created under a group called "spriteGroup" this group contains a few custom attributes which will let get up and running with some basic swaying animation fairly quickly.
7. Apply your materials and enjoy.
I'm lazy, can you show me something created with it?
Yes! I can show you something that was created in part with this script. The following quicktime file is a test I did for a project I'm working on. The sprites used for the grass in this shot were created and animated with the above script. Nothing too fancy here, but it shows it can work.