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What's the best way to scatter something in Daz?

JeremyDJeremyD Posts: 265
in Daz Studio Discussion

I've been trying to figure this one out,  I have a bunch of coins that I want to scatter on a surface. Instead of having to manually place them on the ground, what's the best or fastest way to do this? Also, the ground is not even but has some bumps and dips. I really don't want to have to manually place everything. Any advice would be great.

Comments

  • Richard HaseltineRichard Haseltine Posts: 102,451

    Have a look at http://www.daz3d.com/instances-plus-for-daz-studio

  • selias19selias19 Posts: 253

    Here is a free script that I always use.

    http://www.sharecg.com/v/77603/browse/21/DAZ-Studio/Replicator-for-DAZ-Studio

    ~ Sigrid

  • linvanchenelinvanchene Posts: 1,382
    edited June 2016

    I was asking myself exactly that question a few days ago. 

    Richard Haseltine said:

    Have a look at http://www.daz3d.com/instances-plus-for-daz-studio

    Instances plus seems indeed to be the most versatile plugin I found for DAZ Studio and even works with other render engines like OctaneRender

    - - -

    When people think about Scattering many may think about physic based simulations.

    But this does not need to be the case:

    Elements 3D for Video Copilot is an AfterEffects plugin that offers tons of options by manually changing values and playing with some sliders.

    https://www.videocopilot.net/products/element2/

    And by holding shift in the export options you can also export the scene with the scattered objects as .obj. Unfortunately by exporting you will not benefit of the memory savings of instances. But at least you have a lot more interesting ways to create scattering patterns.

    What completly seems missing in DAZ Studio is a plugin to scatter objects on vertices of an other object.

    and then of course the option to animate the scattered objects to create motion graphics.

    Imagine instanced flowers placed on a sphere that morphs into the form of a human figure or any other object.

    compare:

    Element 3D Replicator Options

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fevaNaHVW3I

     

    - - -

     

    If you are working with OctaneRender one of the most versatile options is Phantom Scatter:

    http://scatter.phantomtechnology.nl/

    Phantom Scatter is an addon that offers a copy / paste workflow to OctaneRender standalone.

    You can choose between different types of scattering: Area, per triangle,  rays, curves, paint with brushes, image based etc.

    The clever part is that the scattering values are set up as CSV data

    -> This means you can import the scattering data in ANY software that can read .csv data.

    comma-separated values .csv  aranges the scattering data like any other spread sheet as you find them in excel.

     

    - - -

    Update/Edit:

    Submitted ticket Request #220857 DAZ Studio Instancing - Support for .CSV data

    - - -

     

    In any case it would be interesting to have more advanced even non physic based scattering plugins for DAZ Studio.

    or alternatively

    Bridges and import options to support allready existing scattering solutions like Elements 3D or Phantom Scatter.

    - - -

    Post edited by linvanchene on
  • JeremyDJeremyD Posts: 265
    Richard Haseltine said:

    Have a look at http://www.daz3d.com/instances-plus-for-daz-studio

    This looks really handy, and could also solve another issue I have (placing flowers and plants), but I'm not sure if objects will follow a plane? For instance if I have a hill would the flowers curve on the hill.

     

    linvanchene said:

    I was asking myself exactly that question a few days ago. 

    Richard Haseltine said:

    Have a look at http://www.daz3d.com/instances-plus-for-daz-studio

     

    Element 3D Replicator Options

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fevaNaHVW3I

    that's really impressive. Daz Studio would really benefit from having more options like these. It does seem that they want to keep it simple (I'm assuming) but I would love for the feature set to evolve. 

  • JeremyDJeremyD Posts: 265
    selias19 said:

    Here is a free script that I always use.

    http://www.sharecg.com/v/77603/browse/21/DAZ-Studio/Replicator-for-DAZ-Studio

    ~ Sigrid

    This looks handy too! And the price is right...

  • MythmakerMythmaker Posts: 606
    linvanchene said:

     

    If you are working with OctaneRender one of the most versatile options is Phantom Scatter:

    http://scatter.phantomtechnology.nl/

    Phantom Scatter is an addon that offers a copy / paste workflow to OctaneRender standalone.

    You can choose between different types of scattering: Area, per triangle,  rays, curves, paint with brushes, image based etc.

    The clever part is that the scattering values are set up as CSV data

    -> This means you can import the scattering data in ANY software that can read .csv data.

    comma-separated values .csv  aranges the scattering data like any other spread sheet as you find them in excel.

    - - -

    Update/Edit:

    Submitted ticket Request #220857 DAZ Studio Instancing - Support for .CSV data

    - - -

    In any case it would be interesting to have more advanced even non physic based scattering plugins for DAZ Studio.

    Scattering to me is like SimCity God Mode, sprnkling trees and birds and rocks and deers anywhere I want

    Dynamic instancing will make Daz Studio cooler and edgier and funner!

    The info on CSV is very illuminating and appreciated btw 

    My dream is to bring ZBrush instances/ array mesh/ fibermesh into Daz without breaking the render budget bank

    And scattering flocks of chirpy animals over my safari, by path!

    Haha I do dream...laugh

     

  • AtiAti Posts: 9,139
    JeremyD said:
    Richard Haseltine said:

    Have a look at http://www.daz3d.com/instances-plus-for-daz-studio

    This looks really handy, and could also solve another issue I have (placing flowers and plants), but I'm not sure if objects will follow a plane? For instance if I have a hill would the flowers curve on the hill.

    It has a "Drop Down/Up" option, which will make it follow the surface of a prop, like a curved plane. 

  • JeremyDJeremyD Posts: 265
    Ati said:
    JeremyD said:
    Richard Haseltine said:

    Have a look at http://www.daz3d.com/instances-plus-for-daz-studio

    This looks really handy, and could also solve another issue I have (placing flowers and plants), but I'm not sure if objects will follow a plane? For instance if I have a hill would the flowers curve on the hill.

    It has a "Drop Down/Up" option, which will make it follow the surface of a prop, like a curved plane. 

    thank you!

  • MythmakerMythmaker Posts: 606
    edited September 2016

    I recently rewatched the INFINITO videos and there are plenty of DYNAMIC SCATTERING gems in there.

    You can draw brush object onto the mesh surface of a imported OBJ/ DS prop/ Poser props designated as a Infinito terrain object.

    Possible to vary density of scatter too. Snapping to terrain by angle. One of the coolest features is snapping objects UNDER or ABOVE another instance object...

    Some of the scattering methods, we still can't do in ZBrush post Nanomesh...

    The youtube link to the screen grab above

     

    The only thing stopping me is (I read on the forum somewhere) apparently the Infinito Instances are DS Duplicates, not DS Instances, so it will generate huge overweight scene very fast...

    I hope Infinito can get an update to using Daz Instancing...

    Post edited by Mythmaker on
  • JeremyDJeremyD Posts: 265
    Mythmaker said:

    I recently rewatched the INFINITO videos and there are plenty of DYNAMIC SCATTERING gems in there.

    You can draw brush object onto the mesh surface of a imported OBJ/ DS prop/ Poser props designated as a Infinito terrain object.

    Possible to vary density of scatter too. Snapping to terrain by angle. One of the coolest features is snapping objects UNDER or ABOVE another instance object...

    Some of the scattering methods, we still can't do in ZBrush post Nanomesh...

    The youtube link to the screen grab above

    that looks excellent. if it's not using instances that's a deal breaker for me though :(

  • Kendall SearsKendall Sears Posts: 2,995

    Look at my Hair can scatter using a density map.  It can even mix items/instances randomly.

    Kendall

  • MythmakerMythmaker Posts: 606

    Yep... LAMH can scatter with paint on-the-fly map...very cool feature.

    I managed to get some random rotate Y and random scale happening too. 

    But 'draw brushing' is so awesome...and fun... feel like I'm back in SimCity god mode again, sprinkling trees and flowers and rocks and even flocks of birds like some kind of nature god lol...

  • Kendall SearsKendall Sears Posts: 2,995
    well... infinito and LAMH are not unrelated. :) Kendall
  • MythmakerMythmaker Posts: 606

    Are you teasing me on LAMH 2.0 complete with dynamic super powers again? 

    AAAARRGGGHHH lol

  • Kendall SearsKendall Sears Posts: 2,995
    Mythmaker said:

    Are you teasing me on LAMH 2.0 complete with dynamic super powers again? 

    AAAARRGGGHHH lol

    no. They use some of the same methods, that's all.
    Kendall
  • MythmakerMythmaker Posts: 606
    edited September 2016

    I did notice the UI style overlap.

    Very few are aware of Infinito's terrain sculpting capability. Or the ability to "spray" anything you want (Poser prop, DS prop, "raw" Objs) onto the terrain...

    Or dragging your trees or cars or sofas over the terrain's odd shape including staircases, with "real time snap-to" collision awareness (my fav thing).

    Procedural shader built in too. This is the kind of plugin iCloners have been asking for.

     

    Rea-time collision to scene object, real-time snap against terrain normals, if only that could happen in DS viewport, if only....

    Infinito 2.0? cheeky

    If I could avoid changing my mouse and navigation when using plugins, I don't mind being restricted to DS OpenGL when in LAMH or Infinito "mode". 

    Post edited by Mythmaker on
  • Oso3DOso3D Posts: 15,042

    Infinito looks really nifty, but I'm pretty much waiting for 2.0 to dive in. ;)

    (Because I just know I'll buy it and the next week 2 will drop...)

     

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