XGen Spline Patterns

 

In this short tutorial we will cover how to use to create some spline patterns that are reminiscent of XGen

. We will use some of XGen's Spline Primitive attributes to create various patterns such as theMandalas

example images below. These spline attributes can then be keyframed to create a hypnotic animation.

More examples can be found here.

 

Base Geometry

Start off by creating a NURBS cylinder. Unparent the top cap and delete the main cylinder shape.We just want the top shape to apply the XGen description.Convert the NURBS top surface to polygon geometry (XGen only works with polygon geometry):

. Delete the original NURBS surface so that you are leftModify -> Convert NURBS to Polygonswith the converted polygon object as below:

NURBS cylinder top cap converted to polygons

 

Create Description

With the cylinder top cap geometry selected go to: Generate -> XGen -> Create DescriptionMake sure is selected. Change  to Splines (use for long hair, vines, etc) Generate the Primitives

so that they look like the image below.In Uniform rows and columns 

 

 

Spline Attributes

In the XGen Editor reduce the to . This will create many more Splines on the cylinderSpacing 0.05on the surface of the topCap geometry.

Increase the length of the Splines to around .2.0

Reduce the Spline to around . Width 0.1Increase the to around . Taper cTaper  1 ontrols the width at the tip of each spline compared to itsbase. Positive values make the tip narrower than the base, and negative values make the tip widerthan the base.

Reduce the value to around . Bend c Bend U -1 ontrols how much the spline is bent at the

It should look like the following:corresponding CV. 0 is no bend and 1.0 is a 90-degree bend. 

 

Next, try adjusting the attributes. This attribute tTilt  ilts the splines away from the surface normal.

Now try adjusting the attribute. This cBend V  ontrols how much the spline is bent at right angles tothe corresponding CV. 0 is no bend and 1.0 is a 90-degree bend. 

Now we are getting some interesting patterns occurring. Have a go at experimenting with different

combinations of these Spline attribute settings to get some interesting and creative results!

 

In Uniform Rows and Columns vs Randomly Across the Surface

The images below show a comparison between how the primitives are generated. Both methods work as

well as each other, although I find  tends to look better in general. TryIn Uniform Rows and Columns

experimenting with both methods to see which one prefer.you

In Uniform Rows and Columns Randomly Across the Surface

 

Example Spline Settings

Below are some examples of some finished renders with the XGen Spline Primitive attribute settings below.

You can see the wide variety of different looks you can get just by adjusting the and  splineBend Tilt

attributes.

 

Rendering

Prior to rendering make sure that  is set as the and that the is setArnold Renderer Renderer Modeto (ribbon is a flat curve which we don't want). These settings can be found under the XGenThick

Preview/Output tab. Assign a shader to the XGen collection and you are ready to render!

 

Batch Render

Remember to do the following steps prior to batch rendering otherwise the XGen description will not

render:

Save the scene.With the geometry and XGen description selected go to File>Export Patchesfor Batch Render from the XGen description menu. If the XGen description has animation, enable animation andchoose the  Ensure that you have the   loaded in the Plug-in ManagerFrame Range.  AbcExport.mllotherwise it won't export the animation properly.Save the scene.

Once you are happy with how the animation looks, you are ready to set off a batch render animation.

 

Conclusion

That concludes this short tutorial on rendering patterns with XGen splines. Other things to try could include

using different polygon shapes to attach  the description to and adding expressions and color to the spline

attributes. Have fun experimenting with XGen splines!