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MEL Scripting : Reference Box for modeling. PDF Print E-mail
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Dear Friends and Readers,

Indian Academy for Digital Arts and Science Pvt. Ltd (IADAS) and Sakshi Softech Pvt. Ltd., Have joined hands to begin teaching and developing courseware for MEL and Python.

This tutorial is the first in the series and many more will follow.

When a trainer wants to teach modeling to students with the help of a backdrop profiles, While teaching, every time a students is required to construct a reference box, hence instead of making one every time we thought we should write a script that will help them create a reference box required for the modeling along with the images for reference, normalizing and planner mapping done automatically.

We assume that the reader has basic knowledge of scripting in MEL before he attempts this one and hence the basics are not covered here.

All information and instruction are in italics and are commented with // or /* ending with */

 

Script01 : Reference Box for modeling.
By Rajesh Navgire and Gunjan

Let’s start scripting:-

//To run the script you can copy from here till the end of script.

/* In this tutorial we are going to make a modeling reference box with reference images placed on the faces of the box, the faces are normalized and finally planner mapping is done to get the image placed perfectly*/

// this proc creates the window and a float value field where a user can enter his required //value for the modeling box width, height and depth in cm.

proc refBox()
{
global string $box;
polyCube -ch on -o on -cuv 4 ;

// here we give a name to the window and initialize the window
string $winName = `window -title "Ref_Cube" -rtf 1`;
columnLayout -adjustableColumn true;

// here we create a column and give the labels to the fields.
text -label "Width Height Depth" -align "center";
setParent .. ;

// now we align the column / row layout for the controls of the window
columnLayout -rowSpacing 5 -columnWidth 150;
rowLayout -numberOfColumns 1 -columnWidth1 255;
$box = `floatFieldGrp -numberOfFields 3 -extraLabel "cm" -value1 10.0 -value2 10.0 -value3 20.0`;
setParent .. ;
setParent .. ;
columnLayout -adjustableColumn true;
button -label "Create Box" -width 120 -align "center" -annotation "Set Cube Value for Refrence Box" -command "getBoxValue";
setParent .. ;
columnLayout -rowSpacing 5 -columnWidth 150;
separator -width 300;
rowLayout -numberOfColumns 2 -columnWidth2 150 150;
button -label "Set reverse normalise" -width 120 -annotation "Reverse and normalise all side of Refrence Box" -command "reverseNorm";
setParent .. ;
separator -width 300;
rowLayout -numberOfColumns 2 -columnWidth2 150 150;
button -label "Set Front Image" -width 120 -command "setimagef";
setParent .. ;
rowLayout -numberOfColumns 2 -columnWidth2 150 150;
button -label "Set Back Image" -width 120 -command "setimageb";
setParent .. ;
rowLayout -numberOfColumns 2 -columnWidth2 150 150;
button -label "Set Right Image" -width 120 -command "setimagers";
setParent .. ;
rowLayout -numberOfColumns 2 -columnWidth2 150 150;
button -label "Set Left Image" -width 120 -command "setimagels";
setParent .. ;
rowLayout -numberOfColumns 2 -columnWidth2 150 150;
button -label "Set Top Image" -width 120 -command "setimaget";
setParent .. ;
setParent .. ;
separator -width 300;
columnLayout -adjustableColumn true;
button -label "planar Mapping" -align "center" -width 120 -command "planar";
setParent .. ;
separator -width 300;

// here we show the window
showWindow $winName;
window -edit -widthHeight 280 320 $winName;
}

// this proc merely echoes the value of the box and set the values to create the box.

global proc getBoxValue()
{
global string $box;

float $v[] = `floatFieldGrp -q -v $box`;
print("The current value of the slider is " + $v[0] + "\n");
setAttr ("polyCube1.width") $v[0];
setAttr ("polyCube1.height") $v[1];
setAttr ("polyCube1.depth") $v[2];
}

// from here onwards we write the proc to sets the images for references

// First we set the front image by the proc “setimagef”

global proc setimagef()
{
select -r pCube1.f[2];

select -r pCube1.f[2] ;
shadingNode -asShader lambert;
sets -renderable true -noSurfaceShader true -empty -name lambert2SG;

select -r pCube1.f[2] ;
connectAttr -f lambert2.outColor lambert2SG.surfaceShader;
sets -e -forceElement lambert2SG;

select -r pCube1.f[2] ;
defaultNavigation -createNew -destination "lambert2.color";
createRenderNode -allWithTexturesUp "defaultNavigation -force true -connectToExisting -source %node -destination lambert2.color" "";
defaultNavigation -defaultTraversal -destination "lambert2.color";

select -r pCube1.f[2] ;
shadingNode -asTexture file;

shadingNode -asUtility place2dTexture;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.coverage file1.coverage;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.translateFrame file1.translateFrame;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.rotateFrame file1.rotateFrame;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.mirrorU file1.mirrorU;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.mirrorV file1.mirrorV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.stagger file1.stagger;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.wrapU file1.wrapU;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.wrapV file1.wrapV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.repeatUV file1.repeatUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.offset file1.offset;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.rotateUV file1.rotateUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.noiseUV file1.noiseUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.vertexUvOne file1.vertexUvOne;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.vertexUvTwo file1.vertexUvTwo;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.vertexUvThree file1.vertexUvThree;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture1.vertexCameraOne file1.vertexCameraOne;
connectAttr place2dTexture1.outUV file1.uv;
connectAttr place2dTexture1.outUvFilterSize file1.uvFilterSize;
defaultNavigation -force true -connectToExisting -source file1 -destination lambert2.color;
connectAttr -force file1.outColor lambert2.color;
}

// First we set the back image by the proc “setimageb”
global proc setimageb()
{
select -r pCube1.f[0] ;

select -r pCube1.f[0] ;
shadingNode -asShader lambert;
sets -renderable true -noSurfaceShader true -empty -name lambert3SG;

select -r pCube1.f[0] ;
connectAttr -f lambert3.outColor lambert3SG.surfaceShader;
sets -e -forceElement lambert3SG;

select -r pCube1.f[0] ;
defaultNavigation -createNew -destination "lambert3.color";
createRenderNode -allWithTexturesUp "defaultNavigation -force true -connectToExisting -source %node -destination lambert3.color" "";
defaultNavigation -defaultTraversal -destination "lambert3.color";

select -r pCube1.f[0] ;
shadingNode -asTexture file;
shadingNode -asUtility place2dTexture;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.coverage file3.coverage;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.translateFrame file3.translateFrame;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.rotateFrame file3.rotateFrame;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.mirrorU file3.mirrorU;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.mirrorV file3.mirrorV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.stagger file3.stagger;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.wrapU file3.wrapU;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.wrapV file3.wrapV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.repeatUV file3.repeatUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.offset file3.offset;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.rotateUV file3.rotateUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.noiseUV file3.noiseUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.vertexUvOne file3.vertexUvOne;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.vertexUvTwo file3.vertexUvTwo;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.vertexUvThree file3.vertexUvThree;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture3.vertexCameraOne file3.vertexCameraOne;
connectAttr place2dTexture3.outUV file3.uv;
connectAttr place2dTexture3.outUvFilterSize file3.uvFilterSize;
defaultNavigation -force true -connectToExisting -source file3 -destination lambert3.color;
connectAttr -force file3.outColor lambert3.color;
}

// First we set the rightside image by the proc “setimagers”

global proc setimagers()
{
select -r pCube1.f[5] ;

select -r pCube1.f[5] ;
shadingNode -asShader lambert;
sets -renderable true -noSurfaceShader true -empty -name lambert4SG;

select -r pCube1.f[5] ;
connectAttr -f lambert4.outColor lambert4SG.surfaceShader;
sets -e -forceElement lambert4SG;

select -r pCube1.f[5] ;
defaultNavigation -createNew -destination "lambert4.color";
createRenderNode -allWithTexturesUp "defaultNavigation -force true -connectToExisting -source %node -destination lambert4.color" "";
defaultNavigation -defaultTraversal -destination "lambert4.color";

select -r pCube1.f[5] ;
shadingNode -asTexture file;
shadingNode -asUtility place2dTexture;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.coverage file5.coverage;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.translateFrame file5.translateFrame;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.rotateFrame file5.rotateFrame;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.mirrorU file5.mirrorU;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.mirrorV file5.mirrorV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.stagger file5.stagger;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.wrapU file5.wrapU;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.wrapV file5.wrapV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.repeatUV file5.repeatUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.offset file5.offset;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.rotateUV file5.rotateUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.noiseUV file5.noiseUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.vertexUvOne file5.vertexUvOne;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.vertexUvTwo file5.vertexUvTwo;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.vertexUvThree file5.vertexUvThree;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture5.vertexCameraOne file5.vertexCameraOne;
connectAttr place2dTexture5.outUV file5.uv;
connectAttr place2dTexture5.outUvFilterSize file5.uvFilterSize;
defaultNavigation -force true -connectToExisting -source file5 -destination lambert4.color;
connectAttr -force file5.outColor lambert4.color;
}

// First we set the leftside image by the proc “setimagels”
global proc setimagels()
{
select -r pCube1.f[4] ;

select -r pCube1.f[4] ;
shadingNode -asShader lambert;
sets -renderable true -noSurfaceShader true -empty -name lambert5SG;

select -r pCube1.f[4] ;
connectAttr -f lambert5.outColor lambert5SG.surfaceShader;
sets -e -forceElement lambert5SG;

select -r pCube1.f[4] ;
defaultNavigation -createNew -destination "lambert5.color";
createRenderNode -allWithTexturesUp "defaultNavigation -force true -connectToExisting -source %node -destination lambert5.color" "";
defaultNavigation -defaultTraversal -destination "lambert5.color";

select -r pCube1.f[4] ;
shadingNode -asTexture file;
shadingNode -asUtility place2dTexture;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.coverage file6.coverage;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.translateFrame file6.translateFrame;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.rotateFrame file6.rotateFrame;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.mirrorU file6.mirrorU;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.mirrorV file6.mirrorV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.stagger file6.stagger;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.wrapU file6.wrapU;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.wrapV file6.wrapV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.repeatUV file6.repeatUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.offset file6.offset;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.rotateUV file6.rotateUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.noiseUV file6.noiseUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.vertexUvOne file6.vertexUvOne;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.vertexUvTwo file6.vertexUvTwo;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.vertexUvThree file6.vertexUvThree;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture6.vertexCameraOne file6.vertexCameraOne;
connectAttr place2dTexture6.outUV file6.uv;
connectAttr place2dTexture6.outUvFilterSize file6.uvFilterSize;
defaultNavigation -force true -connectToExisting -source file6 -destination lambert5.color;
connectAttr -force file6.outColor lambert5.color;
}

// First we set the topside image by the proc “setimaget”
global proc setimaget()
{

select -r pCube1.f[3] ;

select -r pCube1.f[3] ;
shadingNode -asShader lambert;
sets -renderable true -noSurfaceShader true -empty -name lambert6SG;

select -r pCube1.f[3] ;
connectAttr -f lambert6.outColor lambert6SG.surfaceShader;
sets -e -forceElement lambert6SG;

select -r pCube1.f[3] ;
defaultNavigation -createNew -destination "lambert6.color";
createRenderNode -allWithTexturesUp "defaultNavigation -force true -connectToExisting -source %node -destination lambert6.color" "";
defaultNavigation -defaultTraversal -destination "lambert6.color";

select -r pCube1.f[3] ;
shadingNode -asTexture file;
shadingNode -asUtility place2dTexture;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.coverage file9.coverage;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.translateFrame file9.translateFrame;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.rotateFrame file9.rotateFrame;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.mirrorU file9.mirrorU;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.mirrorV file9.mirrorV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.stagger file9.stagger;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.wrapU file9.wrapU;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.wrapV file9.wrapV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.repeatUV file9.repeatUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.offset file9.offset;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.rotateUV file9.rotateUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.noiseUV file9.noiseUV;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.vertexUvOne file9.vertexUvOne;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.vertexUvTwo file9.vertexUvTwo;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.vertexUvThree file9.vertexUvThree;
connectAttr -f place2dTexture9.vertexCameraOne file9.vertexCameraOne;
connectAttr place2dTexture9.outUV file9.uv;
connectAttr place2dTexture9.outUvFilterSize file9.uvFilterSize;
defaultNavigation -force true -connectToExisting -source file9 -destination lambert6.color;
connectAttr -force file9.outColor lambert6.color;
}

// Here we set the planner mapping on the faces
global proc planar ()
{
select -r pCube1.f[2] ;
polyProjection -ch 1 -type Planar -ibd on -md z pCube1.f[2];
select -r pCube1.f[0] ;
polyProjection -ch 1 -type Planar -ibd on -md z pCube1.f[0];
select -r pCube1.f[5] ;
polyProjection -ch 1 -type Planar -ibd on -md x pCube1.f[5];
select -r pCube1.f[4] ;
polyProjection -ch 1 -type Planar -ibd on -md x pCube1.f[4];
select -r pCube1.f[3] ;
polyProjection -ch 1 -type Planar -ibd on -md y pCube1.f[3];
}

// here we do the normalisation of the cube faces
global proc reverseNorm ()
{
displayCull -bfc true; // here we set the back face culling to true
select -r pCube1.f[0:5] ;
polyNormal -normalMode 4 -userNormalMode 0 -ch 1 pCube1.f[0:5];
}

// Finally we call the main procedure
refBox;

/* End of the script */

How to use the script.

Copy the code and paste it in the Script editor or create a shelf menu.

Run the script

A window will appear as shown in the image below

Enter the values required to create the box and press the “set reverse normalize” button to normalize the faces.

Then press the “set front image” button to set the reference image for the back face.

Click on “file” in the create render node and in attribute editor in the file attribute sub-tab lode the file for the reference.

Repeat the same for back , right, left and top images

Then press “planar mapping” button to set the planar mapping on all the faces.

This concludes the tutorial.

Contributed by Rajesh Navgire and Gunjan
IADAS /Sakshi Softech Pvt. Ltd

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