Populate Mesh

Functionality

The node distributes points on given mesh.

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/14288520/201531076-d2b9e049-b229-4065-acbe-a9c735364e3c.png

Volume:

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/14288520/201530858-6d55519a-b06d-4a90-a15d-a564d7c9e5e6.gif

Category

Spatial -> Populate Mesh

Inputs

  • Vertices. Vertices of given mesh(es). This input is mandatory.

  • Edges. Edges of given mesh(es).

  • Faces. Faces of given mesh(es). This input is mandatory.

  • Weights. This input is optional. Available only in Surface and Edges modes. This input is supposed to contain one value per face or edge. The less value the less number of vertices generates on current face. Values lessen then 0 will be changed to 0. This input can be used as mask. Just assign 0 values to faces on which there is no need in generation points.

  • Field. The scalar field defining the distribution of generated points. If this input is not connected, the node will generate evenly distributed points. This input is mandatory, if Proportional to Field parameter is checked.

  • Count. The number of points to be generated. The default value is 50.

  • MinDistance. This input is available only when Distance parameter is set to Min. Distance. Minimum allowable distance between generated points. If set to zero, there will be no restriction on distance between points. Default value is 0.

  • RadiusField. This input is available and mandatory only when Distance parameter is set to Radius Field. The scalar field, which defines radius of free sphere around any generated point.

  • Threshold. Threshold value: the node will not generate points in areas where the value of scalar field is less than this value. The default value is 0.5.

  • Field Minimum. Minimum value of scalar field reached within the mesh. This input is used to define the probability of vertices generation at certain points. This input is only available when the Proportional to Field parameter is checked. The default value is 0.0.

  • Field Maximum. Maximum value of scalar field reached within mesh. This input is used to define the probability of vertices generation at certain points. This input is only available when the Proportional to Field parameter is checked. The default value is 1.0.

  • Seed. Random seed. The default value is 0.

Parameters

This node has the following parameters:

  • Mode. This defines where the points will be generated. The available options are:

    • Volume. The points will be generated inside the mesh.

    • Surface. The points will be generated on the surface of the mesh.

    • Edges. The points will be generated on the edges of the mesh.

    The default value is Volume.

  • Distance. This defines how minimum distance between generated points is defined. The available options are:

    • Min. Distance. The user provides minimum distance between any two points in the MinDistance input.

    • RadiusField. The user defines a radius of a sphere that should be empty around each generated point, by providing a scalar field in the RadiusField input. The node makes sure that these spheres will not intersect.

    The default value is Min. Distance.

  • Proportional to Field. If checked, then the points density will be distributed proportionally to the values of scalar field. Otherwise, the points will be uniformly distributed in the area where the value of scalar field exceeds threshold. Unchecked by default.

  • Proportional to Face Area / Edge Length. This parameter is available only in Surface and Edges modes. If checked then the points density will be distributed proportionally to areas of mesh faces (in Surface mode) or length of mesh edges (in Edges mode). Checked by default.

  • Random Radius. This parameter is available only when Distance parameter is set to RadiusField. If checked, then radiuses of empty spheres will be generated randomly, by using uniform distribution between 0 (zero) and the value defined by the scalar field provided in the RadiusField input. Unchecked by default.

Outputs

This node has the following output:

  • Vertices. Generated vertices.

  • Indices. This output is available only in Surface and Edges modes. For each generated point, it contains the index of mesh face or edge the point was generated on.

  • Radiuses. This output is available only when Distance parameter is set to RadiusField. For each generated point, this output contains the radius of free space around the point.

Examples of Usage

Points on the surface of cricket model:

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/14288520/201532606-a738a7b3-c303-44d6-ab81-3f49b0c11468.gif ../../_images/populate_mesh_surface_1.png

Points within mesh volume, with distribution controlled by scalar field:

../../_images/populate_mesh_volume_2.png

Points on mesh surface, with distribution controlled by scalar field:

../../_images/populate_mesh_surface_2.png

Points on mesh edges, with distribution controlled by scalar field:

../../_images/populate_mesh_edges_1.png

Points on mesh surface, with distribution controlled by scalar field:

../../_images/populate_mesh_field_1.png

Voronoi built from mesh, with sites distribution controlled by scalar field:

../../_images/populate_mesh_voronoi_1.png