POP Field visualization - suggestion

Coming from Cinema 4D, Fields in POPs could use simple visualization so they’re easier to set up and tweak. Or did I miss something and they already have the option somewhere?

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We have prototypes of random fields of dots, but what do you suggest from Cinema4D?

I think cinema 4d has simple gizmos to visualize fields, see this for example https://youtu.be/3nR1Ct7ERVo?t=135

I don’t like it because you cannot see the field where there is no geometry. The axes don’t tell you much.

Probably semitransparent and colored geometrical shapes can work better with some outline/creases shader so you could see the boundary of that? probably some color shading for the strength/falloff if the wishlist is accepted :slight_smile:

It could be interesting idea also to be able to render this visualization. I believe with glsl behind the scene (or in front of it) we can render pretty much any signed distance function, not only the box, even though the box and sphere are the most useful for sure. Because field is almost always attached to some kind of shape, I think this would be the easiest to visualize in space. Very useful for all kind of point clouds and trackers when you can do the zoning.

field_visualizer_example.toe (6.9 KB)

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Was literally going to ask for this, glad it’s been brought up.

It get’s a little difficult to envision where the field is and how it’s falloff is working. The After Effects Gaussian Splatting plugin from irrealix does a decent job of showing you how it’s “field” is shown.

To visualize fields we briefly experimented with rendering representational wireframe or shaded shapes - each shape type has its challenges. especially with falloff. With some of them you can’t tell where the field really is unless there is geometry there to be affected. We also experimented with rendering a mass of random points in the volume of the field shape with the weight at their position affecting their size/opacity/color and it was more pleasing and informative when tumbling, though not as performative. i.e. guides are on our radar.

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