Carbon Plumage¶
Description¶
This node defines a Carbon Plumage simulation object, its import geometry, and the plumage parameters.
A Carbon Plumage is a hybrid object, containing multiple feathers each made of several Carbon dynamic elements. Each feather can be either fully rigid or made of a rigid shaft that is welded to a soft body.
The Plumage Type can be either set to Hard Feathers or Soft Feathers. Soft feathers nicely conform to the underlying surface geometry and usually deliver more realistic results while hard feathers simulate much faster.
A Carbon Plumage.
Both types of plumages can take up to three different feathers as input. When they are specified, Feather 2 and Feather 3 can only deviate in their points’ position and need to have the same topology as Feather 1 (same number of points, same triangles, same vertices).
Additionally, for Soft Feathers, Feather 1, must also have a point group defining what the rigid part of the feather should be.
On the plumage groom’s points a type attribute is used to define the
interpolation between the three feather geometries and a scale attribute
scales independently each instance, which can result in a single Carbon Plumage
containing tens of thousands of unique feathers.
The plumage input geometry must be created from the groom geometry using a
Carbon Plumage Geometry node.
Feathers¶
All feathers are interpolated from 3 base feathers which need to have the same topology:
- Same number of points.
- Same triangles.
- Same vertices.
- Same edges.
This means that the points or triangles may not be reordered and the connection graph of the points has to be the same for all feathers.
Additional requirements:
- Feather’s Center of Mass must be at the origin (0,0,0).
- Feather must be oriented along Y-axis in XY plane (Y is up direction).
- The feather’s root / pivot, i.e. center-lowest point(s), must be on the y-axis.
- Feather’s front is facing towards the positive Z-axis, feather’s back is facing towards the negative Z-axis.
Note
Feathers may extend along Z-axis and may have a 3-dimensional bounding box. This could be either a closed 3-dimensional geometry, e.g. flat boxes as reptile scales for a hard plumage, or having thin feathers which are bent or twisted.
Inputs¶
Input #1 - Plumage Geometry
Output from a Carbon Plumage Geometry node.
Input #2 - Feather 1 Geometry
Feather 1’s geometry.
Input #3 - Feather 2 Geometry
Feather 2’s geometry.
Input #4 - Feather 3 Geometry
Feather 3’s geometry.
Parameters¶
Activation activation
Enable this object. Use 0 to disable, any other value to enable.
Stasis stasis
Tick to place this object into stasis mode. Can be animated.
Stasis Mode triggers a dynamics integration that ignores all action forces and wipes out all kinetic energy, reducing motion and deformation to only result from the reaction forces generated by constraints, such as collision, joints, or soft body primitives.
Note
If the Carbon Simulation’s Lead Simulation parameter Stasis Mode is toggled on, this node will also be in Stasis mode during the Lead Simulation, even if this node’s Stasis parameter is toggled off.
Plumage¶
Animated Geometry geometryAnimated
Enable animated plumage geometry.
Note
It is a good practice to leave this toggled off when not using
animated parameters because it impacts performance.
Root Offset rootOffset
Feather root offset in surface normal direction. Must be greater or equal to the Collider Outer Fatness positioned underneath the feathers if any.
Growth Lead-In leadScales
The lead-in time in number of frames spent growing the feathers.
Note
Any value different than 0 will force the Animated flag during the growth lead-in.
Animated Scales/Types scalesAnimated
Enable animated plumage scales and types.
Note
It is a good practice to leave this toggled off when not using
animated parameters because it impacts performance.
Swing Lead-In leadAngles
The lead-in time in number of frames spent swinging the feathers to their reference angles.
Animated Angles anglesAnimated
Enable animated parameters for this section by evaluating and updating the values at every frame.
Note
It is a good practice to leave this toggled off when not using
animated parameters because it impacts performance.
Groom Angles
Extract all feather resting angles from the angle painted primitive
attribute map.
Angle Limit angleLimit
Angular swing limit per primitive.
Note
Painted primitive attribute name: angle
Override Angles
Override all painted angles and set all feathers to conform to the same resting angle.
Angle angle
Feathers’ resting angle, set equally for all feathers.
Animated Springs springsAnimated
Enable animated plumage springs controlling the feathers’ orientation.
Note
It’s good practice to leave this toggled off when not using
animated parameters because it impacts performance.
Base Parameters
Swing Stiffness swingStiffnessBase
The Swing angular stiffness.
Swing Viscosity swingViscosityBase
The Swing angular viscosity.
Twist Stiffness twistStiffnessBase
The Twist angular stiffness.
Twist Viscosity twistViscosityBase
The Twist angular viscosity.
Painted Attribute Range
Swing Stiffness swingStiffnessRange
The multiplier of the painted primitive attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Note
Painted primitive attribute name: swingStiffness
Swing Viscosity swingViscosityRange
The multiplier of the painted primitive attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Note
Painted primitive attribute name: swingViscosity
Twist Stiffness twistStiffnessRange
The multiplier of the painted primitive attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Note
Painted primitive attribute name: twistStiffness
Twist Viscosity twistViscosityRange
The multiplier of the painted primitive attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Note
Painted primitive attribute name: twistViscosity
Feathers¶
Plumage Type plumageType
The type of plumage, either Hard Feathers, Soft Feathers
Hard feathers are fully rigid, i.e. each feather is composed of Carbon Rigid, Carbon Shape, and Carbon Body.
While they do not always conform to the underlying surface geometry and might not look as realistic as Soft Feathers, they simulate much faster (up to 60 times faster on modern desktops).
Hard feathers have two main applications:
- Provide fast pre-visualization results for feathers.
- Simulate hard shells, e.g. reptile scales, porcupine spines.
Soft Feathers contain a rigid shaft, defined by a point group on the first feather, and a soft shell which is welded to the shaft. The soft shell is equivalent to a Carbon Cloth object using the Face-Segment-Crease Cloth Model. All of their parameters are paintable but not animated.
Shaft Point Group groupA
Points to weld to the rigid shaft.
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
Collision
Activated collisionActivated
Untick this box to remove all collision between this Plumage and itself and all other Carbon nodes in the same simulation.
If unticked, all other Collision parameters will be disabled, as well as all Collision Material and Aerodynamics parameters.
Note
A Plumage without collision activated cannot interact with any Carbon Flow nodes.
Self Collide selfCollide
Enable self-collision for this Plumage against itself.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
Feather Specific Attributes
Feather 1
Double Sided doubleSided1
Tick to use a double-sided collision model (Thickness) for Feather 1, untick to use a single-sided collision model (Inner Fatness & Outer Fatness).
Note
- For use with the Hard Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
Thickness thickness1
Thickness of Feather 1. In scene units.
See also
Note
- When used with Hard Feathers plumage type, this parameter is only available if Double Sided is ticked.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
Use Self Thickness useSelfThickness1
Tick to use a Self Thickness for self-collision for Feather 1. If left unticked, the Thickness value will be used for Self Thickness. In scene units.
See also
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
Self Thickness selfThickness1
Self Thickness of Feather 1. In scene units.
See also
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
Inner Fatness innerFatness1
Feather 1’s surface inner volume thickness. In scene units.
See also
Note
- For use with the Hard Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
- This parameter is only available for single-sided collision.
Outer Fatness outerFatness1
Feather 1’s surface outer volume thickness. In scene units.
See also
Note
- For use with the Hard Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
- This parameter is only available for single-sided collision.
Mass featherMass1
Feather 1’s mass in kg.
Feather 1 Welding
Base Parameters
Welding Radius weldingRadiusBase1
Feather 1’s soft-welding radial limit, how far the feather is allowed to move away from its rigid attachment points.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- It is recommended to use at least a small radius for most applications. Soft-welding is a simple way to handle over-constrained situations, reducing jiggling and increasing stability.
Welding Stiffness weldingStiffnessBase1
Feather 1’s soft-welding stiffness coefficient, keeps the feather from moving away from its rigid attachment points.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- Enabled when the Welding Radius (Base or Range) is greater than zero.
Welding Viscosity weldingViscosityBase1
Feather 1’s soft-welding viscous ratio, the damping of the feather moving around its rigid attachment points.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- Enabled when the Welding Radius (Base or Range) is greater than zero.
Painted Attribute Range
Welding Radius weldingRadiusRange1
The multiplier of the painted primitive attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
Welding Stiffness weldingStiffnessRange1
The multiplier of the painted primitive attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- Enabled when the Welding Radius (Base or Range) is greater than zero.
Welding Viscosity weldingViscosityRange1
The multiplier of the painted primitive attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- Enabled when the Welding Radius (Base or Range) is greater than zero.
Painted Attribute Names
Radius radiusName1
Feather 1’s geometry point attribute name used as this parameter’s painted values.
Stiffness stiffnessName1
Feather 1’s geometry point attribute name used as this parameter’s painted values.
Viscosity viscosityName1
Feather 1’s geometry point attribute name used as this parameter’s painted values.
Feather 2
Double Sided doubleSided2
Tick to use a double-sided collision model (Thickness) for Feather 2, untick to use a single-sided collision model (Inner Fatness & Outer Fatness).
Note
- For use with the Hard Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
Thickness thickness2
Thickness of Feather 2. In scene units.
See also
Note
- When used with Hard Feathers plumage type, this parameter is only available if Double Sided is ticked.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
Use Self Thickness useSelfThickness2
Tick to use a Self Thickness for self-collision for Feather 2. If left unticked, the Thickness value will be used for Self Thickness. In scene units.
See also
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
Self Thickness selfThickness2
Self Thickness of Feather 2. In scene units.
See also
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
Inner Fatness innerFatness2
Feather 2’s surface inner volume thickness. In scene units.
See also
Note
- For use with the Hard Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
- This parameter is only available for single-sided collision.
Outer Fatness outerFatness2
Feather 2’s surface outer volume thickness. In scene units.
See also
Note
- For use with the Hard Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
- This parameter is only available for single-sided collision.
Mass featherMass2
Feather 2’s mass in kg.
Feather 2 Welding
Base Parameters
Welding Radius weldingRadiusBase2
Feather 2’s soft-welding radial limit, how far the feather is allowed to move away from its rigid attachment points.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- It is recommended to use at least a small radius for most applications. Soft-welding is a simple way to handle over-constrained situations, reducing jiggling and increasing stability.
Welding Stiffness weldingStiffnessBase2
Feather 2’s soft-welding stiffness coefficient, keeps the feather from moving away from its rigid attachment points.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- Enabled when the Welding Radius (Base or Range) is greater than zero.
Welding Viscosity weldingViscosityBase2
Feather 2’s soft-welding viscous ratio, the damping of the feather moving around its rigid attachment points.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- Enabled when the Welding Radius (Base or Range) is greater than zero.
Painted Attribute Range
Welding Radius weldingRadiusRange2
The multiplier of the painted primitive attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
Welding Stiffness weldingStiffnessRange2
The multiplier of the painted primitive attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- Enabled when the Welding Radius (Base or Range) is greater than zero.
Welding Viscosity weldingViscosityRange2
The multiplier of the painted primitive attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- Enabled when the Welding Radius (Base or Range) is greater than zero.
Painted Attribute Names
Radius radiusName2
Feather 2’s geometry point attribute name used as this parameter’s painted values.
Stiffness stiffnessName2
Feather 2’s geometry point attribute name used as this parameter’s painted values.
Viscosity viscosityName2
Feather 2’s geometry point attribute name used as this parameter’s painted values.
Feather 3
Double Sided doubleSided3
Tick to use a double-sided collision model (Thickness) for Feather 3, untick to use a single-sided collision model (Inner Fatness & Outer Fatness).
Note
- For use with the Hard Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
Thickness thickness3
Thickness of Feather 3. In scene units.
See also
Note
- When used with Hard Feathers plumage type, this parameter is only available if Double Sided is ticked.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
Use Self Thickness useSelfThickness3
Tick to use a Self Thickness for self-collision for Feather 3. If left unticked, the Thickness value will be used for Self Thickness. In scene units.
See also
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
Self Thickness selfThickness3
Self Thickness of Feather 3. In scene units.
See also
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
Inner Fatness innerFatness3
Feather 3’s surface inner volume thickness. In scene units.
See also
Note
- For use with the Hard Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
- This parameter is only available for single-sided collision.
Outer Fatness outerFatness3
Feather 3’s surface outer volume thickness. In scene units.
See also
Note
- For use with the Hard Feathers plumage type only.
- This parameter is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
- This parameter is only available for single-sided collision.
Mass featherMass3
Feather 3’s mass in kg.
Feather 3 Welding
Base Parameters
Welding Radius weldingRadiusBase3
Feather 3’s soft-welding radial limit, how far the feather is allowed to move away from its rigid attachment points.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- It is recommended to use at least a small radius for most applications. Soft-welding is a simple way to handle over-constrained situations, reducing jiggling and increasing stability.
Welding Stiffness weldingStiffnessBase3
Feather 3’s soft-welding stiffness coefficient, keeps the feather from moving away from its rigid attachment points.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- Enabled when the Welding Radius (Base or Range) is greater than zero.
Welding Viscosity weldingViscosityBase3
Feather 3’s soft-welding viscous ratio, the damping of the feather moving around its rigid attachment points.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- Enabled when the Welding Radius (Base or Range) is greater than zero.
Painted Attribute Range
Welding Radius weldingRadiusRange3
The multiplier of the painted primitive attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
Welding Stiffness weldingStiffnessRange3
The multiplier of the painted primitive attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- Enabled when the Welding Radius (Base or Range) is greater than zero.
Welding Viscosity weldingViscosityRange3
The multiplier of the painted primitive attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Note
- For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
- Enabled when the Welding Radius (Base or Range) is greater than zero.
Painted Attribute Names
Radius radiusName3
Feather 3’s geometry point attribute name used as this parameter’s painted values.
Stiffness stiffnessName3
Feather 3’s geometry point attribute name used as this parameter’s painted values.
Viscosity viscosityName3
Feather 3’s geometry point attribute name used as this parameter’s painted values.
Stretch
Base Parameters
Stretch Stiffness stretchStiffnessBase
Feather’s stretch stiffness (\(mass/time^2\)).
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
See also
Stretch Viscosity stretchViscosityBase
Feather’s stretch viscosity (dimensionless).
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
See also
Stretch Compression stretchCompressionBase
Feather’s stretch compression, must be strictly greater than 0 and always be smaller than or equal to extension.
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
See also
Stretch Extension stretchExtensionBase
Feather’s stretch extension, must be strictly greater than 0 and always greater than or equal to compression.
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
See also
Range Parameters
Stiffness stretchStiffnessRange
Painted point attribute name: stretchStiffness
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Viscosity stretchViscosityRange
Painted point attribute name: stretchViscosity
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Compression stretchCompressionRange
Painted point attribute name: stretchCompression
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Extension stretchExtensionRange
Painted point attribute name: stretchExtension
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Equilibrium stretchEquilibriumRange
Painted point attribute name: stretchEquilibrium
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Bend
Base Parameters
Bend Stiffness bendStiffnessBase
Feather’s angular stiffness (\(mass * length^2 / time^2 / degree\)).
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
See also
Bend Viscosity bendViscosityBase
Feather’s angular viscosity (dimensionless).
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
See also
Yield bendYieldBase
Feather’s angular yield (\(degree\)), between 0 and 180.
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
See also
Plasticity bendPlasticityBase
Feather’s angular plasticity, between 0 and 1.
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
See also
Bend Limit bendLimitBase
Feather’s crease angular limit (\(degree\)), between 0 and 180 degree.
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
See also
Range Parameters
Stiffness bendStiffnessRange
Painted point attribute name: bendStiffness
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Viscosity bendViscosityRange
Painted point attribute name: bendViscosity
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Yield bendYieldRange
Painted point attribute name: bendYield
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Plasticity bendPlasticityRange
Painted point attribute name: bendPlasticity
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Limit bendLimitRange
Painted point attribute name: bendLimit
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Surface
Base Parameters
Surface Compression surfaceCompressionBase
Feather’s surface compression, must be strictly greater than 0 and smaller than or equal to extension.
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
See also
Surface Extension surfaceExtensionBase
Feather’s surface extension, must be strictly greater than 0 and greater than or equal to compression.
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
See also
Surface Pressure surfacePressureBase
Feather’s pressure. Unit in \(mass/length/time^2\).
Describes the force per area over a surface map exercised by a virtual fluid.
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
Warning
Explicit force, so high values can produce instability.
See also
Painted Attribute Range
Surface Compression surfaceCompressionRange
Painted point attribute name: surfaceCompression
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Surface Extension surfaceExtensionRange
Painted point attribute name: surfaceExtension
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Surface Pressure surfacePressureRange
Painted point attribute name: surfacePressure
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Viscous Damping
Base Parameters
Viscous Damping viscousDampingBase
Feather’s viscous damping (\(1/time\)), damping control over the nodes’ group cohesion.
Note
For use with the Soft Feathers plumage type only.
See also
Painted Attribute Range
Viscous Damping viscousDampingRange
Painted point attribute name: viscousDamping
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Collision Material
Static Friction staticFriction
Feather static friction, greater than or equal to 0 and greater than or equal to dynamic friction.
See also
Dynamic Friction dynamicFriction
Feather dynamic friction, greater than or equal to 0 and smaller than or equal to static friction.
See also
Aerodynamics
Note
This section is only available if collision is activated. See Activated.
Warning
Aerodynamics / Carbon Flow does not currently work properly with Carbon Simulation Simulation Space. When using Aerodynamics in a Carbon Simulation that has a non-default Simulation Space, it will neither take the Simulation Space’s transform, nor its local velocity from the animation into account.
Base Parameters
Form Drag formDragBase
Aerodynamics form drag. Shapes with a large apparent cross section exposed to the air flow and with a high form drag coefficient will receive more drag than thinner ones.
Warning
Explicit force, so high values can produce instability.
See also
Skin Drag skinDragBase
Aerodynamics skin drag. Friction of the skin against the air flow. Usually much smaller, and never bigger than form drag.
Warning
Explicit force, so high values can produce instability.
See also
Lift liftBase
Aerodynamics lift. Lift force coefficient.Aerodynamic force that is perpendicular to the direction of the oncoming air flow.
Warning
Explicit force, so high values can produce instability.
See also
Range Parameters
Form Drag formDragRange
Painted point attribute name: formDrag
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Skin Drag skinDragRange
Painted point attribute name: skinDrag
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Lift liftRange
Painted point attribute name: lift
The multiplier of the painted point attribute values that add up to the base parameter.
Physics Draw¶
Warning
Carbon Plumage Physics Draw can noticeably slowly down your scene due to the large amount of geometry being generated by the Plumage Physics Draw.
Physics Draw physicsDraw
This dropdown menu provides different drawing options.
See also
Use Color useColor
Tick to enable custom color for the Physics Draw.
Color colorr colorg colorb
Custom color for the Physics Draw.