On the topic of dynamic trees (Vellum)

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Good morning everyone,

This is my first post to the SideFX forms after finally purchasing Houdini.

First of all I'll say that Houdini is such a breath of fresh air from your typical Maya / 3ds Max workflows. I really do enjoy it so much!

My question is about procedural creating a skeleton based on the center of a tree's trunk.

Heres the scene I'm working on right now.


Right now I'm just using a basic L-system to create some tree curves.

But lets say I get this this geometry from my modeler.



What would be a good way to place points going up the center of the trunk and extending out to the branches then linking them?

I've tried a couple of ways but the results are never very good.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks everyone!
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labs Straight skeleton 3D ?
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I “butchered” one of the files from the Masterclass tutorial…easy peasy

https://www.sidefx.com/tutorials/vellum-constraint-features-john-lynch-h18-masterclass/ [www.sidefx.com]

well maybe not for Drunken Tommy…
Edited by vusta - March 9, 2020 23:37:13

Attachments:
DrunkenTommy.gif (8.6 MB)
vu_DrunkenTommy.hiplc (619.1 KB)

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vusta
I “butchered” one of the files from the Masterclass tutorial…easy peasy

https://www.sidefx.com/tutorials/vellum-constraint-features-john-lynch-h18-masterclass/ [www.sidefx.com]

well maybe not for Drunken Tommy…

Very cool tool, does exactly what I was looking for!

Sadly though the tree still doesn't seem to want to stand.

Using the L-system tree it works fine, its really rigid and nice. But when I switch over to my custom pine tree it just collapses on itself. :\
Edited by Dedrich - March 10, 2020 04:13:59

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houdini_dLWAkq0Frs.png (49.4 KB)
houdini_RTLpeV85bf.png (44.2 KB)

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is it possible you could upload your tree at all ?
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Do you have the scale-by-distance trick set up that is being talked about in the video linked above? From your screenshots it doesn't look like it is (or you need to adjust values).

Marc
---
Out of here. Being called a dick after having supported Houdini users for years is over my paygrade.
I will work for money, but NOT for "you have to provide people with free products" Indie-artists.
Good bye.
https://www.marc-albrecht.de [www.marc-albrecht.de]
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Here is the scene file and tree model I'm using.
I did implement the workflow as mentioned in the webinar.
Maybe I'm doing something wrong?

Thanks.
Edited by Dedrich - March 11, 2020 08:23:35

Attachments:
DynamicTrees_TREE.hiplc (852.0 KB)
7AN_Tree_C_01.ABC (120.0 KB)

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here you are…I got it working…doesn't mean I know what I'm doing tho.

- Alembic: Unpack instead of the default

- solver: crank up substep and const iterations

Attachments:
TreeSwinging.gif (1.1 MB)
vu_DynamicTrees_TREE.hiplc (850.3 KB)

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vusta
here you are…I got it working…doesn't mean I know what I'm doing tho.

- Alembic: Unpack instead of the default

- solver: crank up substep and const iterations

THANK YOU!
Oof those sim times just skyrocketed. Why is this tree so unstable compared to the default Lsystem one?
Thank you though
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Dedrich
vusta
here you are…I got it working…doesn't mean I know what I'm doing tho.

- Alembic: Unpack instead of the default

- solver: crank up substep and const iterations

THANK YOU!
Oof those sim times just skyrocketed. Why is this tree so unstable compared to the default Lsystem one?
Thank you though
yes…some please explain from the devs would be nice…I shouldn't have to resort to cranking up the settings…it should just work.

looking at you Sir John Lynch.
Edited by vusta - March 11, 2020 18:50:27
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YESSSSSSSS….done it !!! substep back to 1…const back to 100

runs smooth as a baby's bum !!!

Check the new nodes I added.

(can i claim to know what I'm doing now ?…pffft…)
Edited by vusta - March 11, 2020 20:46:01

Attachments:
TreeSwinging2.gif (1.3 MB)
vu_DynamicTrees_TREE2.hiplc (851.0 KB)

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