mash2pointcloud

Mash To PointCloud

Export a Mash Network to an Alembic point-cloud.

[!WARNING] It seems the script fully work only when using a MASH Instancer. When using a repro_mesh only the basic translate/rotate/scale attrbiutes seems to work.

Use

1. Copy/paste in script editor
2. Select the Mash Network you want to export.
3. Run script.
4. A file dialog open : Select the path + filename for the alembic export.

Modifying what is exported

(wip)

You can use the scene_config dictionnary:

The build.particleSystems keys allow you to create a new attribute on the particleSystem for export (you must also add it in export.alembic.attributes ). This attribute can be then connected to an attribute on the Mash Node by specifying it in the mashAttr key.

The mashAttr key except the path of the attribute on the Mash Node that must be connected to the newly created p.s. attribute. Make sure these two attributes are of the same type.

Export a randomColor attribute

This is an enough special case to be explained here. If you are using Mash Instances you might now that the color mash node can't be used. But here is a workaround as explained here.

The issue is that the point color attribute must be gathered on the mash Python node. To avoid rewriting all the script while actually not needed, the solution is simply to create a new attribute on the Mash Node called like colorPP, and connect the Python.colorOutPP attribute to it. Then in the script you just have to modify the scene_config dict as usual :

scene_config = {
    "build": {
        "particleSystem": {
            "MyColorRandom": {
                "dataType": "vectorArray",
                "mashAttr": "colorPP"
            }
        },
    },
    "export": {
        "alembic": {
            "attributes": ["MyColorRandom"]
        }
    }   
}

Current Issues

• Doesn't seem to support animated attribute export except from P.

Licensing

See LICENSE.md.

Credits

Huge thanks to Onouris on Discord for showing me the initial nParticle setup that saved my ass when I needed it.