New Plugin: LK Lightning - Non-simulated strand-dynamics

[Leonard Koch]

Hi, I don't quite know if it is appropriate to post releases here, but I assume the spreading of useful tools isn't a crime so I'm just going to go for it.

LK Lightning is a tool-set for the creation of non-simulated strand-dynamics with quite a few tools dedicated to the creation of lightning effects.

LKL is made up of 35 ice-nodes and compounds which sort themselves into 5 different categories, Emission, Control, Splitting, Stopping and Styling.

While it's interface is ICE, it doesn't require the user to have any knowledge of ICE whatsoever, which makes it very artist-friendly.

Overall I've taken great care to make this as production and artist-friendly as possible. Everything is built so that it behaves very predictable and controlled, doesn't jump around or give the artist using it any "wtf"-moments.

All parameters are animate-able and give you immediate feedback. No more enter parameters, press simulate, hate it and repeat. What you see is what you get.

Watch the video below for a more in-depth look at the capabilities of the plugin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5CdEExTc-A

Sorry for it being a little long ;)

Download the Addon.

Download the Sample Scenes.

I hope this is useful to you and I can't wait to see what people do with it.

[Halim Negadi]

It's totally the place for sharing tools and knowledge, that's what makes the community what it is.

Looks very good, I really like the non simulated approach. Thank you for sharing Thomas.

[Meng-Yang Lu]

Thank you so much Leonard!!  Timing is incredible. 

-Lu

[Halim Negadi]

Sorry for messing up with your first name Leonard, I was answering a work email at the same time and swapped the names :)

Great addon BTW, thanks.

[Ed Harriss]

Is there a way for people to download it without going through google?

 

Thanks,

Ed

 

 

From: softimag...@listproc.autodesk.com [mailto:softimag...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Halim Negadi
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 1:21 PM
To: soft...@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: New Plugin: LK Lightning - Non-simulated strand-dynamics

 

Sorry for messing up with your first name Leonard, I was answering a work email at the same time and swapped the names :)

Great addon BTW, thanks.

On Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 6:44 PM, Halim Negadi <hne...@gmail.com> wrote:

It's totally the place for sharing tools and knowledge, that's what makes the community what it is.

Looks very good, I really like the non simulated approach. Thank you for sharing Thomas.

On Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 6:32 PM, Leonard Koch <leonard...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi, I don't quite know if it is appropriate to post releases here, but I assume the spreading of useful tools isn't a crime so I'm just going to go for it.

 

 

LK Lightning is a tool-set for the creation of non-simulated strand-dynamics with quite a few tools dedicated to the creation of lightning effects.

LKL is made up of 35 ice-nodes and compounds which sort themselves into 5 different categories, Emission, Control, Splitting, Stopping and Styling.

While it's interface is ICE, it doesn't require the user to have any knowledge of ICE whatsoever, which makes it very artist-friendly.

Overall I've taken great care to make this as production and artist-friendly as possible. Everything is built so that it behaves very predictable and controlled, doesn't jump around or give the artist using it any "wtf"-moments.

All parameters are animate-able and give you immediate feedback. No more enter parameters, press simulate, hate it and repeat. What you see is what you get.

 

Watch the video below for a more in-depth look at the capabilities of the plugin.

[Rob Chapman]

im getting a 404 error too! 

[Adam Sale]

Hey Leonard.. very generous..

I'm getting a 404 error trying to access the addon and the scene files.

[Leonard Koch]

Yes, here are the two links.

The Addon: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/32633912/LK%20Lightning%201.0.rar

The Sample Scenes: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/32633912/LKL%20Sample%20Scenes%201.00.rar

I wonder why there are issues with google, for me those links work just fine.

I'm glad you guys like LKL, I'll release quite a few tutorial videos for it in the next couple of days, going a bit more in-depth.

If you find any bugs, issues or unexpected behaviour or have a feature request please let me know!

On Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 8:24 PM, Leonard Koch <leonard...@gmail.com> wrote:

As of yet, no.

But if somebody would be willing to host it I'd love to include it here.

If you can't download it from that link please go to this:  https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/lk-lightning/MjujgUMEjv8  Post right there and download the 2 attachments.

Additionally I've attached both the Addon and the Sample Scenes to this email.

[Rob Chapman]

get them whilst they re hot eh! I really like the approach you have taken with trying to make them artist friendly, narrowing the gap, I like it!, these deownload links work, many thanks for submitting

[Ed Harriss]

Thanks a bunch for posting the dropbox links.

Much appreciated!

[Adam Sale]

Great! Working now. thanks Leonard.

Adam

[John Richard Sanchez]

Wow looks cool! Thanks'

John

--

www.johnrichardsanchez.com

[Andy Moorer]

This is awesome, well done!

On Feb 27, 2012, at 12:32 PM, Leonard Koch <leonard...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi, I don't quite know if it is appropriate to post releases here, but I assume the spreading of useful tools isn't a crime so I'm just going to go for it.

<LKLightningIntropic.jpg>

[Darren Macpherson]

[

Great share, thanks Leonard!  I'm going to take a look at it and see if I can implement it into my current job.

Thanks again

D

--

darren macpherson | 3d artist | +2772 355 0924 | www.darrenmacpherson.com | dar...@darrenmacpherson.com | skype: darren.macpherson

On 2012/02/27 07:32 PM, Leonard Koch wrote:

Hi, I don't quite know if it is appropriate to post releases here, but I assume the spreading of useful tools isn't a crime so I'm just going to go for it.

[Simon Reeves]

Looks very in depth, Cheers!

Simon 

[Juhani Karlsson]

Great work man! Does it write point velocities for motion blur?
I tried to render with motion blur with no success.

Thanks a lot! : )
- Juhani

2012/2/28 Simon Reeves <si...@simonreeves.com>

[Amaan Akram]

very nice Leonard. Thanks for sharing.

--
3D Artist/TD @ The Mill, London

http://www.amaanakram.com

[Leonard Koch]

Motion blur is working.

Are you trying to render the Lightning-whip scene? The version I have supplied in the sample scenes is set up for 2D motionblur. Set the shutter under Renderer->Optimization to 1 and it will work.

If you are having issues in another scene it would be great if you could elaborate a little on your issue so we can figure it out.

[Juhani Karlsson]

Ok. I will test it out! Thanks!
Looks bloody cool in Arny with GI ; )

- Juhani

2012/2/28 Leonard Koch <leonard...@gmail.com>

[Leonard Koch]

Oh cool, I think you might take the prize for being the first one to render LKL with Arnold!

[Paul Griswold]

I'm getting the following error when I try to run the BasicSetup, I get:

pplication.ApplyOp("ICETree", "LKLightning_BasicSetup1", "siNode", "siPersistentOperation", "", 0)

# ERROR : 21000-EDIT-AddICECompoundNode - Unspecified failure

Application.AddICECompoundNode("", "LKLightning_BasicSetup1.pointcloud.ICETree")

# ERROR : Traceback (most recent call last):

#   File "<Script Block 2>", line 72, in OnLKL_Basic_SetupMenuClicked

#     app.AddICECompoundNode("LKL Core", PCName + ".pointcloud.ICETree")

#   File "<COMObject Application>", line 2, in AddICECompoundNode

# COM Error: Unspecified error (0x-7fffbffb) - [line 71 in \\Alienbrain\raid\XSI_Workgroup\Workgroup\Addons\LK Lightning 1.0\Application\Plugins\LKL_Basic_Setup.py]

-Paul

[Leonard Koch]

It is highly recommended that you restart Softimage after installing LK Lightning. 

Doing so should get rid of that error.

[Leonard Koch]

Alternatively you can open up your ice-tree and hit the little update arrows next to the search box, which forces Softimage to reload all the ICE nodes just like a full restart would.

[Juhani Karlsson]

Heres fast arny test from earlier today. : ) With missing frame!
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/53410286/electric_Main.mov

Cool stuff!
- Juhani

2012/2/28 Leonard Koch <leonard...@gmail.com>

Alternatively you can open up your ice-tree and hit the little update arrows next to the search box, which forces Softimage to reload all the ICE nodes just like a full restart would.

[Halim Negadi]

For those who messed around ages ago with the mr lightning shaders that were casting randomly, uncontrollable  electric arcs between nulls, with of course no feedback whatsoever except waiting forever the thing to render, it does mean something. Thanks again Leonard.

[Leonard Koch]

That looks cool! The GI gives it a really neat look. I wish I had access to Arnold.

Did you figure out the motionblur issue?

Thanks for all the flowers guys, I'm glad that you dig it and quite overwhelmed with in how many productions you immediately want to integrate LKL.

[Leonard Koch]

I have to retract my statement from earlier, motionblur is not working, I was tricked by a camera moving in the same direction as the strands.

Sorry everyone, I'll try to figure it out.

[Juhani Karlsson]

Thanks Leonard!
Yeah, I havent gotten them to work yet.
I just turbulized the velocity vectors in that render. : )

- Juhani

2012/2/29 Leonard Koch <leonard...@gmail.com>

[ThierryBaret]

Was there not also a plugin called something like Zzot in Softimage 3D Creative Environment?

----- Original Message -----

From: Halim Negadi

To: soft...@listproc.autodesk.com

Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 9:05 PM

Subject: Re: New Plugin: LK Lightning - Non-simulated strand-dynamics

[Grahame Fuller]

Yes, it was part of Ray Rebels.

gray

From: softimag...@listproc.autodesk.com [mailto:softimag...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of ThierryBaret
Sent: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 05:06 AM
To: soft...@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: New Plugin: LK Lightning - Non-simulated strand-dynamics

Was there not also a plugin called something like Zzot in Softimage 3D Creative Environment?
----- Original Message -----
From: Halim Negadi<mailto:hne...@gmail.com>
To: soft...@listproc.autodesk.com<mailto:soft...@listproc.autodesk.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 9:05 PM
Subject: Re: New Plugin: LK Lightning - Non-simulated strand-dynamics

For those who messed around ages ago with the mr lightning shaders that were casting randomly, uncontrollable electric arcs between nulls, with of course no feedback whatsoever except waiting forever the thing to render, it does mean something. Thanks again Leonard.

On Tue, Feb 28, 2012 at 8:56 PM, Juhani Karlsson <juhani....@talvi.com<mailto:juhani....@talvi.com>> wrote:
Heres fast arny test from earlier today. : ) With missing frame!
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/53410286/electric_Main.mov

Cool stuff!
- Juhani

2012/2/28 Leonard Koch <leonard...@gmail.com<mailto:leonard...@gmail.com>>

Alternatively you can open up your ice-tree and hit the little update arrows next to the search box, which forces Softimage to reload all the ICE nodes just like a full restart would.

On Tue, Feb 28, 2012 at 4:22 PM, Leonard Koch <leonard...@gmail.com<mailto:leonard...@gmail.com>> wrote:
It is highly recommended that you restart Softimage after installing LK Lightning.
Doing so should get rid of that error.

[ThierryBaret]

That's it, I couldn't find the name anymore...

Thierry

[Andy Moorer]

It's very cool, well done indeed. A couple of feedback points from a quick perusal of the toolset...

• "splitting" via split at random segments does not affect the first strand.
• A "stop at split" stopper compound would be useful, to kill a strand where it splits (ie creating a "jagged line" look)... doubly useful if it stops a definable distance after the split.

Overall it's super cool and a pleasure to use, nice job Leonard.

[Andy Moorer]

Actually on closer inspection it appears the first strand is split, but not spread so the child strands all end up overlapping their parent.

[Leonard Koch]

Thanks for the feedback.

Could you provide some repro steps for that? For me that doesn't happen when I just do the basic setup and add a splitter. Everything splits correctly and there are no overlapping strands.

It is a bug I fixed a couple of days before the release of version 1.00 so it might be the case that I made a huge mistake and uploaded an outdated version.

Just to be sure I've attached the most recent version.

Alternatively here is a downloadlink for it: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/32633912/LK%20Lightning%201.01.rar

I'll see how I can implement the stop at split functionality the best way.

[Andy Moorer]

Sure, here's a repro scene. Cheers!

[Leonard Koch]

Okay, I must have given you guys an outdated version.

I sincerely apologize for wasting your time. The next release will be smother.

Use version 1.01 and it should work perfectly fine.

Once again the plugin is attached attached and alternatively here is a download-link:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/32633912/LK%20Lightning%201.01.rar

[Ed Manning]

test

[Alan Fregtman]

There's a test?! Nobody said there'd be a test! :o

On 3/1/2012 10:20 PM, Ed Manning wrote:
> test
>
>

[Ed Harriss]

Test? I expected a pop quiz...maybe, but not a test!
Help!

On 3/1/2012 Alan Fregtman wrote

[Darren Macpherson]

So cruel on a Friday too!

[Andy Moorer]

Oh crap (grabs notes).

[Ed Manning]

Everybody passes!

[dominik]

Morning!

 

It looks really interesting and useful! I’m taking a look at this nice sets of compounds.

 

Thanks for sharing Leonard!

 

 

Dominik Kirouac // SHED
artiste 3D

1410, RUE STANLEY, 11E ÉTAGE MONTRÉAL (QUÉBEC) H3A 1P8
T 514 849-1555 F 514 849-5025 WWW.SHEDMTL.COM

 

 

 

From: softimag...@listproc.autodesk.com [mailto:softimag...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Ed Manning
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2012 1:10 PM
To: soft...@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: New Plugin: LK Lightning - Non-simulated strand-dynamics

 

Everybody passes!

[Leonard Koch]

Version 1.5 with working motionblur and quite a few new features coming in a couple days...

In the meantime, 3Delight in it's superiority to MentalRay renders perfect motionblur for LKL, even on version 1.0.

Thanks for appreciating the work!