Houdini 22.0 Nodes Geometry nodes

Walk on Surface geometry node

Traces the motions of particles along a surface.

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Since 22.0

Overview

This node traces the motions of particles as they walk on a surface. The particles either follow straight lines (surface geodesics) or the integral curves of a velocity field (streamline tracing). This can be useful for navigating along polygonal meshes as well as tracing and visualizing vector fields. For instance, if the polygonal mesh is dipped into a background velocity field (e.g. wind) the velocity streamlines can be computed by tracing a collection of particles scattered over the domain. Options to control whether surface geodesics terminate or reflect when they hit a boundary are also exposed.

The collection of points to begin tracing from is specified using the first input, while the domain over which the curves are traced is specified using the second input. The output of the node is the collection of curves traced starting from the source points.

Parameters

Source Points Group

A subset of points in the first input to begin tracing from. Leave this blank to trace from all points.

Walking Method

Determine whether walking paths follow surface geodesics or velocity streamlines.

Path Properties

Start Direction

When tracing surface geodesics, specifies the initial direction of the curve to trace. The starting direction can either be the same for all initial points using the From Parameter option or specified for each point individually using the From Attribute options. The specified attribute must be a 3D vector point attribute on the first input.

Surface Velocity

When tracing velocity streamlines, specifies the velocity field on the surface to trace. This can be given either as a 3D vector primitive or point attribute on the second input. The velocity field is treated as being piecewise constant inside each primitive.

Length

This specifies the target length of each traced curve. The prescribed length can either be used directly or to scale a per source point specified length attribute.

Scale By

This specifies whether the Length attribute above is used as the raw length (Do Nothing) or if it should multiply a specified length attribute (Scale by Attribute)

Length Attribute

This is a point attribute on the first input specifying the maximum length of the curve traced starting from each point.

Global Rotation

Defines an additional rotation of the starting direction or the background velocity field around the surface normal.

Velocity Symmetry

When tracing the streamlines of a vector field, the vector field can optionally be treated as a rotationally symmetric multi-vector field. When the streamline enters a new face, tracing continues in the symmetric direction. This makes the field line as smooth as possible.

Max Steps

A safeguard to limit the number of points which make up an individual particle path. Off by default.

Boundary Behavior

Default Behavior

When tracing surface geodesics, particle paths can be extended when they hit the boundary by reflection. This options specifies the default behavior of boundary edges, whether paths should terminate when they hit them or reflect and continue. Reflection along the boundary can simulate billiard trajectories.

Termination Edges

In addition to boundary edges, a path hitting any edge in this edge group will also terminate.

Reflection Edges

When tracing surface geodesics, a path hitting any edge in this edge group will reflect.

Output Groups and Attributes

Prim Num Attribute

The primitive attribute on the surface geometry where every point of the traced path lies.

Prim UVW Attribute

The intrinsic UV coordinate on the surface geometry where every point of the traced path lies.

Tangent

Outputs the tangent direction of the particle path as a point attribute.

Copy Attributes from Surface

Copies the specified attributes onto the points from the surface geometry.

Inherit Attributes from Source Points

Copies the specified attributes onto the entire traced curve from the source point geometry.

See also

Geometry nodes