I'm having a strange user interface problem. While visibility set to a node in the network pane, would it be possible to select another node and work on that node in the viewport?
Just an example in case I'm not being clear. I'm following the quadruped animation tutorial. The tutorial uses Houdini 9 but I'm using it with Houdini 10. There aren't any significant differences but when it comes to doing “paint capture,” I'm running into a problem. The tutorial has visibility set to the “pre_muscle_deform” node but tells you to click the “paint_capture” node just above it and press enter to start painting capture weights. However, this doesn't work in Houdini 10. The tool options in the viewport remains as “DeformMuscle.” If I set visibility to the paint_capture node instead, I go into the “Capture Layer Paint” node but I cannot paint anything.
Loaded Houdini with animation_rig_done.hip from the tutorial files
Refreshed the imports on the deform rig as described in the tutorial
Dived into /obj/helldog_tutorial_deform_rig/skin
On the file__source_from_file node, put in $HIP/geo/houdini_helldog.bgeo for the Geometry File
Clicked on the paint_capture node to select it
Moved the mouse into the viewport and hit Enter. Some colors now show up.
In the Capture Regions pull down menu above the viewport, choose a random muscle. Change the radius to something paintable like 3. Paint away. It also helps if you hit ‘d’ with your mouse in the viewport to bring up the display options. Then turn off Misc > Specular Highlights.
Thanks so much for replying! This is driving me nuts. Needless to say, I'm still having some trouble. Since this is working correctly for you hopefully you can help me troubleshoot further.
* I'm using Houdini 10. Not sure if the version matters. * After your step 4 below, the default “visible” node for me is “pre_muscle_deform.” Is that right? * Now if your step 5, when you say click on the paint_capture node, you're only clicking it to highlight right? Not setting visibility to this node? I'm not sure step 5 (moving mouse into viewport and hitting enter) works in Houdini 10. * When I do your step 6 without setting visibility to the paint_capture node all I see above the viewport is the DefromMuscle node options. I can only get the “Capture Layer Paint” to show up above the viewport by setting visibility to it. * When I do set visibility to the paint_capture node, I see the colors and I am able to paint. So may be that is ok. I'm having some trouble painting where I want to be but that's probably a different problem.
techvd * After your step 4 below, the default “visible” node for me is “pre_muscle_deform.” Is that right?
Yes.
* Now if your step 5, when you say click on the paint_capture node, you're only clicking it to highlight right? Not setting visibility to this node?
Yes.
I'm not sure step 5 (moving mouse into viewport and hitting enter) works in Houdini 10. * When I do your step 6 without setting visibility to the paint_capture node all I see above the viewport is the DefromMuscle node options. I can only get the “Capture Layer Paint” to show up above the viewport by setting visibility to it.
It must. You can tell when it works by noting where it used to say “View” in the horizontal toolbar above the viewport. When you hit Enter with your mouse positioned in the viewport, it should change to Capture Layer Paint.
Also make sure that both your Scene View and Network View panes are NOT pinned (default).
The only other reason why I can think that it's not working for you is that the “paint_capture” node isn't actually selected in the Network View BEFORE you move your mouse to the viewport.
A recap.
Turn on the display flag (aka visibility) on the “pre_muscle_deform” node in the Network View
Now click on “paint_capture” to highlight it in the Network View. Leave the display (blue) flag on the “pre_muscle_deform”
Now move your mouse to the viewport and hit enter.
