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View Full Version : Xmas lights - Dynamic chain/curve

Sky_Chris
11-07-2006, 05:44 PM
Hi folks, 'tis the season! Well not really yet, anyway... Here's my problem; I want to create a chain of christmas lights, the kind where like 30 lamps sit on a cable. Now the cable inside is not stiff, so the behaviour of a dynamic curve (hairsystem) would yield fine results for behaviour.

However the only way to attach objects to different points of the dynamic curve is using a motion path. Trouble here is that the rotation value is not transfered correctly to the attached object, when the dynamic curve moves th objects flips randomly...

Another approach I considered was using a rigidbody chain. Trouble here would be to get the cable part between the lights to work dynamically when the chain is falling on a branch (Other than using really short distances between the RBs and increase their numbers accordingly.

Can anyone share enlightenment?
mandark1011
11-07-2006, 07:52 PM
why not use a hair system for the rope...then another one with just follicles attached to the extrude or whatever the rope is to control position and dynamic behavior of the laterns? Havent tried it myself but should work
_stev_
11-08-2006, 12:48 AM
Trouble here is that the rotation value is not transfered correctly to the attached object, when the dynamic curve moves th objects flips randomly...

To avoid this, you can attach your objects to the curve using the "pointOnCurveInfo" node instead of a motion path. Then, aim constrain your objects along the curve and use an up node to prevent them from flipping.

Stev
Sky_Chris
11-08-2006, 09:12 AM
@ mandark1011

That does it! The wire deformer doesn't consider the "up vector" of the curve (or whatever you may call it) as the motionpath attachment method does... so no flipping here! Why didn't I think of that?
That method actually has many nice possibilities.

@ _stev_ Interesting approach too. Took me a moment to figure out which values to hook up to the pointOnCurveInfo (ended up hooking the dynamic curves "Local" attribute to the Input Curv), but now it works.

I'll try them both and see what gives better results.

Another perfect straightfoward solution thanks to your help! Thanks a lot you guys!
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