MJCG compounds 2.0.0 Released!

[mjcg91]

Hi Everyone,

I am happy to announce the release of MJCG compounds 2.0 ! It is a huge feature release with many new nodes, graphs and enhancements to existing compounds.

Release note: 

### `2.0.0 - February 26, 2021`

#### License
	● MJCG compounds is now released under MIT license.

#### New compounds
	● generate_ivy: Generates surface climbing ivy plants. [BETA]
		● ivy_seeds: Initialize ivy seeds.
		● ivy_surface: Initialize ivy surfaces.
		● ivy_lights: Initialize ivy lights.
	● generate_L_system: Generates geometry procedurally using a Lindenmayer system. [BETA]
	● generate_venation: Generates growing strands by colonizing points (Space Colonization Algorithm implementation).
	● frustum_culling: Culls geometry components outside the field of view of a camera.
	● create_plexus_from_points: Creates a strands plexus by connecting points by proximity.
	● smooth_geo_property: Smooth a geo property by averaging adjacent values.
	● smooth_strands: Smooth strands by averaging adjacent points.
	● resize_strands: Changes the length of strands objects.
	● scale_strands: scales strands objects from their roots.
	● soften_harden_mesh_normals: Computes and smooths the adjacent face vertex normals that differs less than a defined angle.
	● update_mesh_curvature: Computes the per-point curvatures of mesh objects.
	● update_strands_curvature: computes the per-point curvatures of strands objects.
	● update_strands_neighbors: computes the adjacent point indices of strands objects.
	● update_face_neighbors: computes the adjacent face indices of mesh objects.
	● convert_to_points: converts point-based geometries to points objects while preserving per-point properties.
	● hash_string: hash a string into a pseudo-unique 64-bit integer.
	● bias: Christophe Schlick’s bias function.
	● gain: Christophe Schlick’s gain function.
	● bias_and_gain: Jonathan T. Barron's generalization of Schlick's "bias" and "gain" functions.
	● one_minus: substract a value from 1.
	● get_point_size: simple get property node.
	● set_point_size: simple set property node.

#### New graphs
    ● aim_constraint
    ● braid
    ● cardioid
    ● centripetal_catmull_rom_strands
    ● clump points
    ● clump_strands_on_guides
    ● conform_strands_to_surface
    ● eyelid_rig
    ● face_position
    ● fill_array_between_values
    ● frustum_culling_example
    ● instances_along_strand
    ● instances_along_strands
    ● ivy_basic_growth
    ● ivy_hanging_branches
    ● ivy_point_light
    ● ivy_seed_array
    ● ivy_sunlight
    ● ivy_variable_adhesion
    ● ivy_variable_nutrition
    ● L_system_example_1
    ● L_system_example_2
    ● L_system_example_3
    ● L_system_example_4
    ● L_system_example_5
    ● L_system_example_6
    ● L_system_example_7
    ● L_system_example_8
    ● L_system_example_9
    ● mesh_curvature
    ● plexus
    ● point_mandelbrot
    ● point_mandelbulb
    ● resize_vector_world
    ● smooth_geo_property_color
    ● smooth_geo_property_curvature
    ● smooth_geo_property_normal
    ● smooth_strands_with_field
    ● soften_harden_normals
    ● spherify
    ● strands_curvature
    ● strands_random_color
    ● strands_random_cut
    ● strands_random_scale
    ● strands_wrap
    ● transpose_2D_array_RGB
    ● uv_wrap
    ● venation_cat
    ● venation_plane
    ● venation_sphere
    ● wrap

#### Enhancements
	● extrude_strands:
		● Can now transfer any geo property from the strands to the extruded mesh (limited to point_component properties).
		● Added "start_cap" / "end_cap" options for tube extrusion mode.
		● Added "reverse_normals" option.
		● Added "use_point_size" option. If enable: dimension values will be multiplied over an existing "point_size" property. 
		● Added alignment & close_extrusion options for custom shape extrusion mode.
		● Simplified UV creation workflow.
		● Added Terminal outputs.
		● Is faster.
	● curl_strands:
		● Added "spatial_frequency" option.
		● Added "weights" interpreted auto-port.
		● Added Terminal outputs.
	● create_braids_from_strands:
		● Added "spatial_frequency" option.
		● Added "use_point_size" option. If enable: dimension values will be multiplied over an existing "point_size" property.
		● The braid strands segment count is now defined by a spatial_segment_length parameter.	
		● Added Terminal outputs.
	● update_stands_orientations:
		● Added "Vector Projection" framing algorithm.
		● Added internal mechanism to deal with invalid up-vectors.
		● Default framing algorithm has been reverted back to Parallel Transport.
		● Added Terminal outputs.
	● wrap_deformer:
		● Added "weight_property" input to control deformation with a per point property.
		● Deformation result is more accurate.
		● Added Terminal outputs.
	● strands_wrap_deformer:
		● Added "use_point_size" option. If enable: dimension values will be multiplied over an existing "point_size" property. 
		● Added width & depth parameters which controls the scale of the geometry relative to its positions along the strands.
		● Added Terminal outputs.
	● uv_wrap_deformer:
		● Now has "weight_property" input to control deformation with a per point property.
		● Is now making use of the new uv_number workflow to instead of using uv properties. 
		● Deformation result is more accurate.
		● Added Terminal outputs.
	● create_mesh_from_uv:
		● Added "unfold" parameters to blend the output mesh between UV and world space.
		● Is now making use of the new uv_number workflow instead of setting uv properties. 
		● Added Terminal outputs.
	● spherify_deformer:
		● Added "weight_property" input to control deformation with a per point property.
		● Added Terminal outputs.
	● create_point_grid:
		● Fixed a bug causing resolutions to return incorrect values.
		● Added Terminal outputs.
	● create_point_mandelbrot:
		● Added initial color support
		● Added Terminal outputs.
	● create_point_mandelbuld:
		● Point size is now automatically calculated depending on the resolution.
		● Added Terminal outputs.
	● transpose_2D_array:
		● Added support for variable sub-sized 2D arrays.
		● Is easier to use.
	● rotate_strands:
		● Added randomization option and parameters.
		● Added "weights" interpreted auto-port.
		● Added Terminal outputs.
	● create_catmull_rom_strands:
		● Added Terminal outputs.
		● Is faster
	● point_transform_scope:
		● Added Terminal outputs.
		● Is faster
	● transform_scope:
		● Added Terminal outputs.
		● Is faster
	● create_cardioid: Added Terminal outputs.
	● create_circle: Added Terminal outputs.
	● update_strands_orientations_from_closest: Added Terminal outputs.
	● update_strands_up_vectors_from_closest: Added Terminal outputs.
	● update_face_position: Added Terminal outputs.
	● resize_vector: Added supports float2 and float4 vector types.
	● flatten_2D_array: auto mode is faster.
	● flatten_3D_array: auto mode is faster.
	● remove_first_in_array: is faster.

#### Compatibility Breaks
*(You can use the update script to automatically update your compounds, graphs, and Maya scene files).*

	● Compound namespace as been moved from "user::MJCG::" to "MJCG::".
	● update_stands_orientations:
		● Orientations now has the Z axis facing the tangent (previously X axis).
		● Removed "update_tangents" & "update_orientations" options.
	● oscillator: Input & output port changed from array to single value.
	● Compounds that have "Transform" port group now uses euler degrees instead of quaternion.
	● Deleted "quaternion_from_direction_and_up_vector: similar compound is now available built_in: "normal_and_tangent_to_orientation"
	● Deleted "all_elements_true: similar compound is now available built_in as "all_true_in_array".
	● Deleted "all_elements_false: similar compound is now available built_in as "all_true_in_array".
	● Renamed "average" to "array_average".
	● Renamed "pop_first" to "remove_first_in_array".
	● Renamed "pop_last" to "remove_last_in_array".
	● Renamed "angle_between" to "angle_between_vectors".
	● Renamed "distance_to" to "distance_between_vectors".
	● Renamed "get_strands_roots" to "get_strands_start_points".
	● Renamed "get_strands_tips" to "get_strands_end_points".
	● Renamed "twist_strands" to "rotate_strands".
	● Renamed "set_strands_orientations_from_closest_geometry" to "update_strands_orientations_from_closest".
	● Renamed "set_strands_up_vectors_from_closest_geometry" to "update_strands_up_vectors_from_closest".
	● Renamed "update_face_center" to "update_face_position".
	● Renamed "matrix_scope" to "transform_scope".
	● Renamed "deform_by_uv" to "uv_wrap_deformer".		
	● Renamed "create_3D_grid" to "create_point_grid".
	● Renamed "catmull_rom_strands" to "create_catmull_rom_strands".
	● Deleted all sample scenes: they are now available as graphs. Some graphs also have attached example scenes.

Download link: https://gumroad.com/l/mjcg_compounds_2_0_0 

Enjoy!

[morten.bojsen-hansen]

Wow! Absolutely stunning work Maxime!

[sachin.shrestha]

Superb work Maxime! Thank you for sharing with the community and I hope people donate on gumroad this time. Something like this takes an incredible amount of time, effort, planning and a kind heart to then share with the larger world.

[MoNaYLeviathan]

These are amazing.  Thank you!

[valhallen]

*thud*
Stunned! Utterly inspirational!

[mjcg91 · Accepted solution]

I uploaded version 2.0.1 of the compound pack.

It fixes small issues with the with the update script, and also removes the trivial error messages during Bifrost loading. There is no real need to update unless you needed the update script.

You can use the same download link as above.

### `2.0.1 - March 16, 2021`

#### Bug fixes
	● Cleaned trivial loading error messages.
	● Fixed small issues in the update script.

Cheers

[Anonymous]

thanks for your work !🌹

[ZachGray]

You are doing so much important work - how is it possible that you are not on the Bifrost team? All this stuff will have to happen as Bifrost absorbs more and more of Maya.

[valhallen]

lol "absorbs"

They work as a team my friend, how would I get points into BF if there was no Maya?
But I agree, why is Maxime not working for BF?

[darioOrtisi]

Hi Maxime.
I will like to use your curvature compound to take emission map(color white) for my particles but i'm fails. There is something that i can do?
Thanks

[mjcg91]

@darioOrtisi Hi

I don't know how to emit particles using a control map so you should make an other thread to ask.

The curvature generates a float geo property so you can convert it to RBG or RGBA color if needed.

[darioOrtisi]

Thanks. I do it.

[amitesh3d]

A great tool! I can't even imagine how could you pack so much goodies in such a small package.

I used your wrap deformer and it works great. Any idea why it's not working on volumes? 

[maxime_jeanmougin]

Thanks! Glad you like the pack.

Deforming volume is not supported yet for this node so for now only standard geometries are supported. I'd definitely like to add support to this in the future though.

[marioreitbauerat]

@mjcg91  Thank you for this awesome toolset
I hope you don't mind my question. Was using your wrap deformer and I wonder how one would implement a "piece" attribute / property for better deformation.
So if rest / driving and resulting objects all got the same island / piece attribute ?

The uv wrap would be an alternative, sadly that one I can not get to work, it will stall when creating a mesh out of the uv's (i assume my incoming data is too heavy ? will need to try with a sample data set instead)