XGen xpd file

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I am using XGen for creating fur and using Renderman for rendering. I want to bake the collection to for rendering. So how can we use XPD file what is the use of it. How can we import XPD file in Maya.

[Michael_Todd]

The XPD file is a binary file that is used by XGen to bake out all the description information. It's not a cache file in that it can be rendered in software renderers as is. XGen is a render time procedural and the scene file being rendered should have an associated XGen file. That file can be live or use the baked out xpd file. Either way, when the renderer calls for the procedural, XGen reads the XGen file and generates the primitives on demand, either from the live xgen file or from the baked xpd file.  XPD files will render more quickly as xgen just reads the baked geo rather than regenerate all the primitives and then apply all the modifier effects and other parameters. 

Most renderers support XGen and have an XGen procedural, Arnold, Redshift, VRay, Renderman and Mental Ray for instance. Once the xpd file has been generated, from a groom bake  modifier or via the render output options, the generator needs to be switched from Random or Uniform to Xpd File and the xpd file path needs to be added. After that, the maya scene needs to be saved to save out the XGen file with the XPD info. Then the renderer can read the updated xgen file and call the xpd file at render time as needed.

[Anonymous]

Hi Michael, 

Can the description generated by the xpd file follow the geometry as it changes? for example a with a bendshape?

it doesnt seems to be doing it in my case?

I had the idea of baking all my groom once finished, but it looks like after baking it works like a static thing. is that right?

thanks for your time!

[lukeha]

Can the description generated by the xpd file follow the geometry as it changes?  

Would like to know if this is possible. I know people can work with animwires, which makes sense with long simulated hair - but for short sim-less fur I would expect the xpd to follow the deforming scalp. Is it possible to deform the xpd using the scalp rather than animwires?