Houdini 20.0 Nodes Geometry nodes

Convert VDB geometry node

Converts sparse volumes.

Since 12.5

This node converts sparse volumes, or VDBs, into other types.

It provides some extra options not available through the Convert SOP.

This also allows the conversion of volumes into VDBs.

For converting to polygons, the second and third inputs can be optionally supplied. The second input provides a reference polygon surface for converting the volume, which is useful for converting fractured VDBs back to polygons. The third provides additional VDB fields which can be used for masking (which voxels to convert to polygons), and/or for specifying an adaptivity multiplier.

Parameters

Group

Subset of primitives to convert.

Convert To

What form of conversion to perform.

Volume

The VDB is converted to a dense volume. This allows legacy tools to understand the primitive. VDBs with effective resolutions over 1000^3 will have difficulties being efficiently represented.

VDB

Convert into a VDB.

If the input is a Volume Primitive, it is converted into a VDB. The resulting VDB will be the same class as the input, so a fog volume becomes a fog VDB, and a SDF volume an SDF VDB.

Polygons

The VDB is surfaced along the specified iso value. Polygons are created.

Polygon Soup

The VDB is surfaced, but a polygon soup is created. While polygon soups do not support most editing operations, they are a more compact way of storing dense meshes.

Split Disjoint Volumes

When converting VDB to dense volumes, create multiple volume primitives per VDB for unconnected regions where possible. This allows very large and sparse VDBs to be converted with less memory usage.

VDB Class

If after converting the VDB, it is still a VDB, it is compared against this class. If it differs, it will be converted to the specified type.

To change the class of the VDB without changing voxel values, use the Primitive SOP.

No Change

The VDB is left in its original class. When converting from volumes, this will be the detected class of the source volume.

Convert Fog to SDF

Fog VDBs will be surfaced along the iso value and then converted to an SDF VDB. This is equivalent to a Convert To Polygons followed by a VDB From Mesh.

Convert SDF to Fog

SDF VDBs will be set to 1 in their interior and 0 on their exterior. The band in between will blend between these two values.

VDB Type

Change the type of value stored at each voxel.

When converting from a scalar type to a vector type, the scalar value is copied to each vector component.

When converting from a vector type to a scalar type, voxel values are lost – only voxel topology is preserved.

This option is not available when VDB class conversion is enabled, since SDFs and fog volumes always have scalar, floating-point values.

VDB Precision

Change the numerical precision of the value stored at each voxel.

Isovalue

The crossing point of the VDB values that is considered the surface when converting to polygons.

Fog Isovalue

The crossing point of the VDB values that is considered the surface when converting to level sets from fog volumes.

Prune Tolerance

After building the VDB grid there may be undetected constant tiles. This tolerance is used to detect constant regions and collapse them. Such areas that are within the background value will also be marked inactive.

Signed-Flood Fill Output

Tests areas of inactive background values to determine if they are inside or outside of an SDF, and hence whether they should have negative or positive sign. This toggle has no effect for non-SDF volumes.

Note

This is ignored when converting native fog volumes to VDB.

Activate Inside Voxels

Mark all voxels active inside an SDF, even if they match the negative background value. This option is useful if processing the resulting VDB with VEX, which only runs over active voxels of a VDB. However, disabling this option will retain only the narrow active internal band of an incoming SDF if it has one, saving memory and downstream processing. This toggle has no effect for non-SDF volumes, or if Signed-Flood Fill Output is disabled.

Adaptivity

How closely to match the surface when converting to polygons. Higher adaptivities will allow more variation in polygon size, using fewer polygons to express the surface.

Compute Vertex Normals

Compute vertex normals when converting to polygons. This uses the optional second input to help eliminate seams if available.

Internal Adaptivity

When converting to polygons with a second input, this is the adaptivity threshold for regions that are inside the reference surface.

Transfer Surface Attributes

When converting to polygons with a second input, this transfers all attributes (primitive, vertex and point) from the reference surface. It will override computed vertex normals for primitives in the surface group.

Sharpen Features

Sharpen edges and corners.

Edge Tolerance

Controls the edge adaptivity mask.

Surface Group

When converting to polygons with a second input, this specifies a group for all polygons that are coincident with the reference surface. This group is useful for transferring attributes such as uv coordinates, normals, etc. from the reference surface.

Interior Group

When converting to polygons with a second input, this specifies a group for all polygons that are inside the reference surface. These group is useful for creating projected UV coordinates, or for assigning a different material.

Seam Line Group

When converting to polygons with a second input, this parameter specifies a group for all polygons that are near the seam lines. This can be used to drive secondary elements such as debris and dust.

Seam Points

When converting to polygons with a second input, this parameter specifies a group of the fracture seam points. This can be used to drive local pre-fracture dynamics, such as local surface buckling.

Surface Mask

If enabled, specifies the name of the VDB field from the third input to be used for masking. The field’s interior defines the region for converting to polygons.

Mask Offset

Iso value used to offset the interior region of the surface mask.

Invert Surface Mask

Causes the complement of the surface mask to be converted instead.

Adaptivity Field

If enabled, specifies the name of the VDB field from the third input for controlling adaptivity. The voxel values are multiplied with the Adaptivity parameter value.

See also

Geometry nodes