populate3d
Introduction
Populate:Panels is a scripted plugin for Autodesk 3ds max. It assists in designing and modeling geometric patterns that are distributed over free form surfaces.
You can easily scatter a source object over each poly face of the target surface, scale it per face to populate the area without gaps and change the appearance of the source object by using different kinds of “mutations”.
For example, you can use a map to control the height (z-scale) of the source panel object, randomly change it’s properties, like diffuse color, morph any value in its modifier stack, or alternate multiple source objects.
Many operations can be done in real time. It is also possible to calculate a large array of panels and collapse them to a single mesh.
The generated output is always standard 3ds max geometry, so there are no issues with future 3ds max versions, exchanging scene files or using 3rd party renderers.
Torus knot as a target surface for a complex panel object
Populated result
User Interface
Populate:Panels dialog
When opening the Populate:Panels dialog you will be asked to load a panel preset, or pick a custom object.
The second step is picking a target surface, where the panel object(s) are distributed onto.
Panels can be any geometric or spline objects.
A target surface can be either a NURBS surface, or a poly/mesh object with quad faces.
Fig 1: Target surface and panel object
Fig 2: Panel object populated on target surface
Fig 3: Distribution options of picked objects
After picking a panel object there are different options to control how the panels are distributed on the target surface.
Distribution options can be set independently between multiple panels.
Mutations
Fig 3: Mutations stack
Panel Variation
In this example two panel objects are alternated over a single surface.
In (Fig 2) the tube objects height (Z-Scale) is randomized, as well as its number of sides.
(Fig 3) shows the Mutations Stack for the result.
Fig 1: Populate/Skip Mutation
Fig 2: Randomized panel object properties
Fig 6: Randomize Color Mutation
Morphing Properties
In the following example a simple box is used as a panel element.
After randomizing it’s height (Random Z-Scale Mutation) and diffuse color (Morph Property Mutation), the result gets a lot more interesting.
Fig 4: Box as panel element
Fig 5: Randomized Z-Scale and color
Fig 9: Morph Property interface
Texture maps
Bitmaps, procedural maps and vertex colors can control panel color, or any other property.
Fig 7: Procedural checker map
Fig 8: Panel color from map
Example: Radius of the panel openings is controlled by painted vertex colors.
Download
Free Download for 3ds max
WARNING: This is a beta release that contains bugs and quirks that will be resolved before a final release. Use this version at your own risk. Don’t use it for production!
Populate-Panels_Setup_v0.85.exe (374.5 KiB)
released on December 3, 2011.
Please use the Update Notifications service to get informed about new releases.
Compatibility:
Autodesk 3ds Max 2010 to 2012 (32 and 64 bit).
You don’t have to uninstall previous versions of Populate:Panels in order to upgrade, just download the new installer and run it.
Version History/Change log:
0.83
Changed: Product renamed from “Populate” to “Populate:Panels”
Fixed: Crash with Japanese version of 3ds max
0.82
Added: Copy & Paste support for mutations
Fixed: Precision issue with flat 2d Panels
Fixed: Mutations: “Affect RGB channel” buttons not working
0.81
Fixed: UI/Status bar temporarily frozen when doing heavy calculations.
Fixed: Morph modifier wasn’t working with mutations.
Fixed: Bug in “Morph property” mutations pick dialog.
Fixed: Crash with “Merge to Single Object” distribution and “Morph Property” mutations.
Fixed: Bugs with Framing System.
0.80
Initial release.