VSFX 705

Setting up

Cutter for Mac

Modifying the run file

export PYTHONPATH=$PYTHONPATH:$RMANTREE/bin
export PATH=$RMANTREE/bin:$PATH

export MAYA_USER_DIR=$HOME/Documents/maya
export RMS_SCRIPT_PATHS=$MAYA_USER_DIR/rfm_scripts/image_tool
RMANFB=it

# change directory below to where your cutter is
cd /Users/ddu/Desktop/ddu/projects/vsfx_705/cutter

# To uncomment the next line - remove the '#' character

java -Xms512m -Xmx512m -classpath .:cutter.jar Cutter

Making the text file executable

chmod 777 run

Setting up Maya Env for Mac

http://fundza.com/rfm/customizing/index.html

1. Copy rfm_scripts folder to /Users/ddu/Documents/maya

2. copy scripts folder to /Users/ddu/Documents/maya

3. Copy Arnold Shaders to /Users/ddu/Documents/maya/projects

4. copy maya.env file to /Users/ddu/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya/2020

• Maya > Window > Plugin manager > Ensure Renderman for Maya is loaded and auto-loaded

• check script editor for environment and preferences

Student web spaces

1. Go myScad > my info > Web Space Activation
2. Go to: https://studentpages.scad.edu/instructions.html > Myfile
3. Upload your html and asset files to https://sav-myfile.scad.edu/myfile/ws-idrive/Savannah/Webspaces/Studentpages/web_pages

Atom

• Core: font size: 20, source code pro, 4 spaces tab, Scroll past end

• Packages: Turn off auto-complete-plus & snippets

apm install script autocomplete-python minimap file-icons python-autopep8 linter-flake8 
maya language-mel
pip install autopep8
pip install flake8 

if linter does not show up, delete your Atom config files located: /Users/userName/.atom/config.cson

Notes

keep in mind Renderman Attribute Editor, Shelf, Menu bar

Using cutter

• cmd+click on a function (eg.print) to read the Built-in Functions documentation

Resources

Documentation

• Python built-in functions

Learning Python for Maya

• Autodesk Introduction to Python Scripting in Maya
• Python Scripting for Maya Artists (on-line), Chad Vernon

Learning Python

1. Guru99: Python Tutorial for Beginners
2. Learning Python, Mark Lutz, O'Reilly Media
3. Think Python(on-line), Allen Downey

Getting started with Python

Key terms: list, tuple, dictionary

# script is called test.py but it 
# implements a module called "test"
# a modules contrains attributes
# an attribute can be, eg. name of a variable 

# the built-in datatypes are, nubmers, text(string),
# (and collections) list, tuple, dictionary. file.


age = 26
name = "tom"
family = 'jones'
nationatlity = 'welsh'

# an attribute can also be the name of function 
#create function
def person() 
    print(age)
    print(name)
    print(family)

#creating list 
countries = []
countries.append('usa')
countries.append('china')
countries.append('new zealand')
countries.append('england')
#countries.sort() 
#countries.reverse

# using a tuple (fixed value list) - for vertices data structures transfer
locked = (2,4,3,6,8,9)
# i can test my code by printing some value 
# this call the values 
# but comment it out if used asa module
person() 


if __ name__ == '__main__':
    #person() #(debugging purposes) 
    
    #for place in countries:
        # print(place)
    
    #print(countries[3])
    
    print(locked[0])

#print(__name__) # return name of module from where it was run

fileWriting

# file_test.py
# an example of how to store text in a document 

out_file= open('file directory', 'w')
for n in range(10):
    out_file.write('sphere -r 1;\n)
    out_file.write('move %f %f 0;\n' % (n,(n-2))) # placeholder %
     
out_file.close()

# to run the mel document in Maya use this mel...
#source "filedirectory"

Python

#vsfx705/cutter/using_test.py
# only possible if the python files exist in the same directory
import test 
from importlib import reload

print(test.nationality)
test.person

importRandom

# importing random
import random
val = random.uniform(0,1)
print(val)

for n in range(10):
    val = random.uniform(0,1)
    if val>0.5:
        print(val)

rib_test

# rib_test.py
"""
Points "P" [0 0 0   3 5 6    5 6 7   9 9 9] "constantwidth" [1.0]
"""
  
import random
  
rib_file = open('/Users/ddu/Desktop/ddu/projects/vsfx_705/cutter/data2.rib', 'w')
  
rib_file.write('##bbox: -5 -5 -5 5 5 5\n')
rib_file.write('Points "P" [\n')
for n in range(100000):
	x = random.uniform(-5, 5)
	y = random.uniform(-5, 5)
	z = random.uniform(-5, 5)
	rib_file.write('%f %f %f\n' % (x,y,z) )
rib_file.write('] "constantwidth" [0.05]')
rib_file.close()

#Maya > Renderman menu > Archive > import rib archive 

gen_points

# maya/scripts/gen_points.py
  
import random
  
def cubic(num, side):
    data = []
    n = 0
    while n < num:
        x = random.uniform(-side/2, side/2)
        y = random.uniform(-side/2, side/2)
        z = random.uniform(-side/2, side/2)
        data.append( (x,y,z) )
        n = n + 1
    return data
  
def box(num, width, height, depth):
    data = []
    n = 0
    while n < num:
        x = random.uniform(-width/2, width/2)
        y = random.uniform(-height/2, height/2)
        z = random.uniform(-depth/2, depth/2)
        data.append( (x,y,z) )
        n = n + 1
    return data
    
# how to create a spherical point cloud 
def spherical(num,radius):
    pass # define function but not implemented

rib_particles

# maya/scripts/rib_particles.py
import random
import gen_points
  
rib_file = open('/Users/ddu/Desktop/ddu/projects/vsfx_705/cutter/data2.rib', 'w')
data = gen_points.cubic(10000,10,0.05)
  
rib_file.write('##bbox: -5 -5 -5 5 5 5\n')
rib_file.write('Points "P" [\n')

for coord in data:
	rib_file.write('%f %f %f\n' % (coord[0],coord[1],coord[2]) )
	
rib_file.write('] "constantwidth" [0.05]')
rib_file.close()

#Maya > Renderman menu > Archive > import rib archive 

questions
    why is my cutter so slow?
    does not have vsfx705
    cannot open hyperlink

Lesson 3

recap

list [] 
tuple () fixed values 
## bbox: -5 5 -5 5 5 5 # read by rib

def writeCubic(path

cmd E to render in Renderman