Operators to adjust individual standins

[Andrew_Wilkins1]

Hey all,

Quick question, is it possible to isolate individual standins that read the same ASS file and adjust subdiv settings independently?

For example, in the scene:

Rock_standin_v001:Rock_standin
Rock_standin_v002:Rock_standin

I've tried grouping:

group1/*Rock*.(@type == 'shape')
group2/*Rock*.(@type == 'shape')

and looking for name spaces:

*:*Rock*.(@type == 'shape')
*v001*:*Rock*.(@type == 'shape')

The below selection expression works but it grabs all the assets with the same shape name and applies the subdiv tweak to all of them.

selection: *Rock*.(@type == 'shape')
assignment: subdiv_type='none'

I'm assuming that because the contents of the ASS file are all the same and that's what the expression is targeting...if the scene grouping/name spacing isn't taken into account then individual control might not be possible?

Thank you,
Andrew

[ashley.handscomb.retallack]

From MtoA 3.1.* you can attach operators directly to the standin node.
From 3.2.* you can also use the operators UI on the standin node to apply overides to objects inside the standin

https://docs.arnoldrenderer.com/display/A5AFMUG/Stand-ins#Stand-ins-FileContents

[Andrew_Wilkins1]

Thanks Ashley,

Yeah, we're on MtoA 3.2.0.1
I've tested with the new operator UI and although much better for artists, unfortunately the same thing occurs. If you adjust one shape node it applies to all of them in the scene on standins. (being prodcedural nodes that read the same ASS file)

There doesn't seem to be any way to differentiate the shape node in the ASS file in order to control each standin instance separately.

[Andrew_Wilkins1]

Hello again,

Just to wrap up this thread—as it's been dead for awhile. I'm going to assume that I answered my own question and that fundamentally the way that procedural nodes function means that they can't be individually adjusted.

My reasoning for asking this question, is for a pipeline workflow option in order to adjust subdiv type/iterations on standin assets to reduce/increase level of detail based on distance to camera as adaptive subdivision doesn't work on standin assets.

Thanks 🙂
Andrew

[Stephen.Blair · Accepted solution]

If you have standins that read the same ass file, then Arnold will read the ass file just one time, at put it in the [internal] procedural cache. Then Arnold basically instances that cached procedural.

So you won't be applying different values to different standins. You'll apply one value to one standin, and that standin is then instanced by Arnold.

[Andrew_Wilkins1]

Okay, got it. Thanks for the clarification Stephen, much apprecieated.