Hi All,

I have imported an EPS file in the shape of the Coca Cola logo. I want to extrude the logo but I want the registration mark extrusion to be much less than the main logo part.

So I assumed I needed Groups and proceeded down that path. I select the logo parts and use the Groups button in the interface to convert my selection to a group node. I repeat the process with the Circle R mark only selected to create a separate group just for that portion of the logo.

Initially all looks well however the two groups are flowing into one another and that will not do. The concept is to have each group flow into it's own extrude node and then out to a merge to present the final geometry for the object.

So I shake one of the group nodes to break all connections and drop it back down. Now begins the part that I call “fighting with auto connections”. I right click on the bottom arrow of the eps source node to connect it back to my free group node and it will connect, but then auto routes itself back to the other groups node input. So the fight continues for a while and the final out keeps jumping around and even looping back at certain times. All these auto and then broken connections must mess up Houdini because it just crashes.

Am I going crazy here?

What is the best way to filter parts of geometry?
Are Groups still valid?
Is there another way?
Does everyone scream at these auto connection features? (Or is it just me)

Thanks

That's sounds like you're or Houdini is going crazy.

Can you upload some screen captures showing it.

Auto connect other nodes to group should be a BUG , So download last Houdini Build and upload your example file if your problem will not solve.

But about another methods for filtering different part of the Geometries you have too many choice , like : VOP SOP , Connectivity SOP , Partition SOP , Extrude by Color and maybe …

I made for you some of these methods

:wink:

I tried the same task again in a new scene and I got better results. It seems I don't really need to make groups at all. The primitives index can be used to filter .eps or vector logo parts via the built-in group filter field in the Edit node.

I created a dual chain with two edits each one followed up by an extrude with a different depth. These flowed back into merge.