software:touch_designer

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software:touch_designer [2024/07/16 09:58] – [Rendering] mhsoftware:touch_designer [2025/03/24 10:04] (current) – [Nodes] mh
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 ====== Touch Designer ====== ====== Touch Designer ======
  
-  * [[https://derivative.ca/|Official Website]]+  * **[[https://derivative.ca/|Official Website]]**
  
-  * [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSqkC3f_BStyl5j6NqYwLOErW0ych_4k1|Interactive and Immersive HQ Tutorial channel]]+  * **[[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSqkC3f_BStyl5j6NqYwLOErW0ych_4k1|Interactive and Immersive HQ Tutorial channel]]**
  
 ===== Knowledge ===== ===== Knowledge =====
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 ==== Mouse movement ==== ==== Mouse movement ====
  
-  * ''Left Click'' + ''drag'': Move an operator. If done on empty space: pan view +  * **''Left Click'' + ''drag''**: Move an operator. If done on empty space: pan view 
-  * ''Mouse Wheel'': zoom in/out +  * **''Right Click'' + ''drag''**: Selection box 
-  * ''Right Click'' + ''drag'': Selection box+  * **''Mouse Wheel''**: zoom in/out
  
 ==== Nodes ==== ==== Nodes ====
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 Viewers can be toggled **Active** with the button on the bottom right. This locks their position and enables to move the content around in the preview panel to highlight details of its processing. This does not affect its output. Viewers can be toggled **Active** with the button on the bottom right. This locks their position and enables to move the content around in the preview panel to highlight details of its processing. This does not affect its output.
  
-''MIDDLE CLICK'' on an operator opens the info dialog for that operator.+**''MIDDLE CLICK''** on an operator opens the info dialog for that operator.
  
 For each Operator hitting the ''?'' button in the parameter window will open up the wiki page for that operator. For each Operator hitting the ''?'' button in the parameter window will open up the wiki page for that operator.
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   * **MAT:** **MAT**ERIAL OPERATOR - Yellow -    * **MAT:** **MAT**ERIAL OPERATOR - Yellow - 
  
 +<WRAP INFO>
 The darker colors in all families are generators. The darker colors in all families are generators.
 +</WRAP>
  
 ---- ----
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 You can put multiple things in a geometry comp with the display flag ON but it's best practice to keep just one item per geometry to have a cleaner network. You can put multiple things in a geometry comp with the display flag ON but it's best practice to keep just one item per geometry to have a cleaner network.
 +
 +===== Useful Tools =====
 +
 +==== Optical Flow ====
 +
 +This operator calculates the motion vectors inside a video stream and codes it to the Red and Green channels.
 +
 +This converts video streams into usable data for interactivity.
 +
 +The data can be plugged into particle systems, fluid systems or any other creative content that accept data as input to react upon.
 +==== Output ====
 +
 +Output is done by using the **Window** COMP.
 +
 +You can open as a separate window or in perform mode.
 +
 +Tweak the //Monitor//, //Opening Size// and Toggle the //Borders// parameters.
  
 ==== Textures ==== ==== Textures ====
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 ===== Useful tips ===== ===== Useful tips =====
 +
 +=== Using null ===
  
 When creating a network of nodes, add null operators at strategic checkpoints. This way you can reference these null "checkpoints" everywhere else in your project and if anything has to change prior to the checkpoint the reference is still valid. When creating a network of nodes, add null operators at strategic checkpoints. This way you can reference these null "checkpoints" everywhere else in your project and if anything has to change prior to the checkpoint the reference is still valid.
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 COMP Buttons and sliders can be connected to Null operators to toggle them into run mode and handily display their output. COMP Buttons and sliders can be connected to Null operators to toggle them into run mode and handily display their output.
 +
 +----
 +
 +=== Using Resolution TOP ===
 +
 +It's good practice to work in lower resolutions until you need to up the resolution with a **Resolution** TOP.
 +
 +When using source loops into TOP Fx chains it's handy to pass them through a Resolution TOP and lower them down to half res to improve performance.
 +
 +---- 
 +
 +=== Useful python expressions ===
 +
 +  * ''absTime.frame'' will use the frame count to increment the parameter this expression is used on. Use math expression behind such as ''* 0.5'' to slow down (or speed up)
 +  * ''absTime.seconds'' like the above but slower
 +  * ''me.digits'' will return the digit (auto incremented) in the operator name. You can associate it with a math expression such as ''* -5'' to automatically increment or decrement a parameter as you copy/paste (useful for **Cache Select** building a trail effect for example).
 +
 +----
 +
 +=== Using the Cache TOP ===
 +
 +Be wary of the frame count when using the **Cache** TOP as it is essentially what uses the most GPU memory.
 +
 +It's best to use a **Cache Select** TOP rather than using the Output Index of the **Cache** TOP. They will have very small cook times and be totally free in terms of GPU memory as they will reference the images that are already in memory through the **Cache** TOP.
 +
 +Use the **Reorder** top in conjunction with **Cache** and **Cache select** to create some nice RGB trailing effects
 +
 +----
 +
 +=== Working with instancing ===
 +
 +When working with instancing take care that the length match. For example if your SOP null has 40 points, then the CHOP you use on it should have 40 samples.
 +
 +Instancing is done in the **Geometry** Comp under the tab of the same name. Reference another SOP in there and play around with the points.
 +
 +===== Creative Tips =====
 +
 +Repetition of small processes (as basic as drawing a circle at every point of a circle) can make some very rich designs.
 +
 +Overlapping content also enriches designs.
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  • Last modified: 2024/07/16 09:58
  • by mh