Generate Weightmap Deformer

Generates a weightmap based on various properties.

Example .dfx

Method #

This node generates per-vertex weight values which can be used by other nodes - particularly other deformers - as part of their processing.

Deformers such as the 3D Plasma Deformer have an input called “Generated Weightmap” which takes a Generate Weightmap Deformer as input; the per-vertex weight is then used to scale the deformation.

This node outputs a vertex weightmap for the mesh that can be used to control where on a surface a Deformer is allowed to modify the parent mesh.

Parameters

Transform

These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.

Parameter	Details
Position X	Move along the local x-axis.
Position Y	Move along the local y-axis.
Position Z	Move along the local z-axis.
Rotation Heading	Rotate around the local y-axis.
Rotation Pitch	Rotate around the local x-axis.
Rotation Bank	Rotate around the local z-axis.
Scale X	Scale along the local x-axis.
Scale Y	Scale along the local y-axis.
Scale Z	Scale along the local z-axis.

Inherit Transform Channels

Toggle which transform channels should be inherited from the parent node. By default, all transforms will be inherited.

Parameter	Details
Position X	Toggle inheritance of the X Position from the parent.
Position Y	Toggle inheritance of the Y Position from the parent.
Position Z	Toggle inheritance of the Z Position from the parent.
Rotation Heading	Toggle inheritance of the Rotation Heading from the parent.
Rotation Pitch	Toggle inheritance of the Rotation Pitch from the parent.
Rotation Bank	Toggle inheritance of the Rotation Bank from the parent.
Scale X	Toggle inheritance of the X Scale from the parent.
Scale Y	Toggle inheritance of the Y Scale from the parent.
Scale Z	Toggle inheritance of the Z Scale from the parent.
World Position Only	Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties.
Inherit Time	Toggle inheritance of time from the parent.

Attributes

These properties control the core behaviours of the node.

Parameter	Details
Blend Amount	Global override for how much the deformer affects the mesh.
Subdivision Order	Toggle whether the deformer is added before or after the object is subdivided. Before Subdivision : The deformation is applied before any subdivision is added. After Subdivision : The deformation is applied after subdivision, or inbetween if the subdivision level property is modified.
Subdivision Level	The subdivision level at which the deformer is applied. Subdivision Order must be set to After Subdivision to Function.
Weightmap	Add a weight map to determine where the deformer is more or less effective.
Vertex Source Mode	Choose whether the deformer applies to the individual vertices or the mesh chunks. Vertex Positions : The mesh deformations are applied to the mesh vertices. Chunks : The mesh deformations are applied to the seperated mesh pieces.
Deformer Transform Space	Choose which transform space the deformer uses for deformation. Does not affect falloffs. Local : Deformations are calculated in the Local Space of the object, so transformations of the parent mesh will not affect the deformation. World : Deformations are calculated in the World Space of the scene, so transformations of the parent mesh will apply the deformer differently depending on the mesh position.
Update Time Mode	How the deformer updates with relation to the timecode. Locked To Timecode : The deformer deformations are locked to the timecode and the same time will always yield the same deformations. Running / Looping : The deformer deformations are disconnected from the timecode and will loop seamlessly at the end of the layer.
Mode	The mode by which the value is generated. Falloff Only : The deformer’s falloff parameters are used to calculate the weight. Texture Coordinate - X : The X component of the geometry’s texture coordinate is scaled by the falloff and used as the weight. Texture Coordinate - Y : The Y component of the geometry’s texture coordinate is scaled by the falloff and used as the weight. Texture : An input texture is sampled using the geometry’s texture coordinates and the luminance of the sampled pixel is used as the weight.
Gain	Scale the weighting per vertex for all vertices.
Offset	Offset the generated weights for all vertices.
Min Value	Limit the minimum weight generated for all vertices.
Max Value	Limit the maximum weight generated for all vertices.
Invert	Invert the weights across the weightmap.
UV Scale X	Scale the UV texture along the X axis. Only functions with one fo the texture modes selected.
UV Scale Y	Scale the UV texture along the Y axis. Only functions with one fo the texture modes selected.
UV Offset X	Offset the UV texture along the X axis. Only functions with one fo the texture modes selected.
UV Offset Y	Offset the UV texture along the Y axis. Only functions with one fo the texture modes selected.
Texture Wrap Mode U	Controls how textures used by Weightmap are wrapped when the U value range exceeds 0 to 1. Only functions with one fo the texture modes selected.
Texture Wrap Mode V	Controls how textures used by Weightmap are wrapped when the V value range exceeds 0 to 1. Only functions with one fo the texture modes selected.
Show Weightmap	Visualise the weightmap as vertex colours on the source geometry.

Falloff

These properties control where the deformer affects the geometry.

Parameter	Details
Falloff Enabled	Enable falloff from the position of the deformer.
Falloff Shape	Select which shape to use to draw falloff from. Sphere : How quickly the falloff drops to 0 at the outer falloff. Cylinder - X : Falloff is drawn radially outward from a line along the x axis, forming a cylindrical falloff. Cylinder - Y : Falloff is drawn radially outward from a line along the y axis, forming a cylindrical falloff. Cylinder - Z : Falloff is drawn radially outward from a line along the z axis, forming a cylindrical falloff. Plane - X : Falloff is drawn outward from a plane formed on the YZ axis. Plane - Y : Falloff is drawn outward from a plane formed on the XZ axis. Plane - Z : Falloff is drawn outward from a plane formed on the XY axis.
Falloff Range	Limits the range the deformer is effective at.
Falloff Inner Range	The inner range from which the falloff is calculated from.
Falloff Curve Power	How quickly the falloff drops to 0 at the outer falloff.
Invert Falloff	Invert the direction of the falloff.
Falloff Curve	Visualises the falloff curve, from being completely in effect to no longer effective.

Inputs

Name	Description	Typical Input
Image	The image that is sampled when the mode is set to “Texture”.	Video Loader
Falloff Node	Use an input node to control the transformation values of the falloff.	Null
Generated Weightmap	Add a weightmap to vary the strength of the deformer across the surface.	Generate Weightmap Deformer
Transform Modifiers	Apply the transforms of another node to this node.	Null
Target Node	Modifiy the rotations of the node to always direct the z axis towards the input.	Null
Local Transform Override	Apply the transforms of another node to this node, relative to its parent.	Null

Generate Weightmap Deformer

Method #

Parameters

Inputs

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