A tool for quick and dirty building volumes

[Undersky]

Hi!

I'm a rather new user of RC working in arch-viz and I'm trying to do a tool for me and my colleagues to rather quickly create buildings for volume and sun studies. What I want is:

1. Define a base shape for the ground floor with a spline.
2. Control the placement of windows, balconies etc. with material ID:s on the spline.
3. Duplicate the ground floor via a simple spinner control.
4. Choose between either flat or "angled" roof on top. This one isn't all that important though. I would at least want a flat roof, handling how the angled roof would be computed might be a bit overkill.

I've tried both 1s and 2s arrays, but I just don't get how I can duplicate the floors with a spinner (or at all).

If anybody could point me in the right direction, I'd be very happy.

[Michal Karmazín]

Hi,

There are many possible ways, how to set-up such style(s). Using Array 2S Generators would be recommendable for most parts. To get corresponding geometry based on the Spline Material ID, you can use the Selector Operator in the Spline Mat ID mode.

The total height of the building can be calculated by multiplying used Segment size to get the Y Size and the value can be used for the Z Offset value of "roof Generators" one Array 2S Generator using the Extend X/Y Size to Area to "fill" the base spline or an Array 2S for "clipping the inner part" and a Linear 1S for borders.

Attaching a sample scene. Hope you'll find it useful.

Let me add, that we acknowledge that RC comes with a much steeper learning curve than Forest Pack. In an effort to help users get acquainted with RailClone, we have an ongoing series of tutorials you may find helpful, and detailed documentation. I would recommend you to check our RailClone "Getting Started with RailClone" followed by our "Next Steps with RailClone" guides too.

Best regards,

[Undersky]

Hi,

There are many possible ways, how to set-up such style(s). Using Array 2S Generators would be recommendable for most parts. To get corresponding geometry based on the Spline Material ID, you can use the Selector Operator in the Spline Mat ID mode.

The total height of the building can be calculated by multiplying used Segment size to get the Y Size and the value can be used for the Z Offset value of "roof Generators" one Array 2S Generator using the Extend X/Y Size to Area to "fill" the base spline or an Array 2S for "clipping the inner part" and a Linear 1S for borders.

Attaching a sample scene. Hope you'll find it useful.

Let me add, that we acknowledge that RC comes with a much steeper learning curve than Forest Pack. In an effort to help users get acquainted with RailClone, we have an ongoing series of tutorials you may find helpful, and detailed documentation. I would recommend you to check our RailClone "Getting Started with RailClone" followed by our "Next Steps with RailClone" guides too.

Best regards,

Thanks a lot for the info and the sample scene. Will check it out later today or next week. And yeah, I know about the tutorials. I've gone through a couple of them, but decided I wanted to try something from scratch. I don't mind the steep learning curve, it just takes a couple of tries until the workflow "clicks", and the rewarding feeling when you do get something that works is so much greater if it's hard to get into.

[Undersky]

Attaching a sample scene. Hope you'll find it useful.

Hi! Sorry for the late follow up, but you know how it is when real work gets in the way of playing around with stuff like this =)
Thanks a lot for the sample scene. You built everything I needed more or less, and it's a great starting point to see how it was built. Been modifying this one to suit my needs and will be a great time saver once it's done. Thanks again!

[IL2267]

Hi,

There are many possible ways, how to set-up such style(s). Using Array 2S Generators would be recommendable for most parts. To get corresponding geometry based on the Spline Material ID, you can use the Selector Operator in the Spline Mat ID mode.

The total height of the building can be calculated by multiplying used Segment size to get the Y Size and the value can be used for the Z Offset value of "roof Generators" one Array 2S Generator using the Extend X/Y Size to Area to "fill" the base spline or an Array 2S for "clipping the inner part" and a Linear 1S for borders.

Attaching a sample scene. Hope you'll find it useful.

Let me add, that we acknowledge that RC comes with a much steeper learning curve than Forest Pack. In an effort to help users get acquainted with RailClone, we have an ongoing series of tutorials you may find helpful, and detailed documentation. I would recommend you to check our RailClone "Getting Started with RailClone" followed by our "Next Steps with RailClone" guides too.

Best regards,

Hello,
is there any way, using your example, to control the height of the building (assign a random scale factor for the number of levels) using the spline iDs.
Practical example:
I have 3 closed splines - I merge them in a single object and give them ID 1, 2 and 3
Using your example I generate three buildings on the 3 closed splines.
Let's say the input for their height (number of floors) is 20
I would like to know if I can somehow introduce an extra parameter that will randomize my input using the spline IDs
input=20
spline 1 (ID1) -> 10 floors
spline 2(ID2) -> 10 floors+5
spline 3(ID3) -> 10 floors-5
this way the resulting geometry will have some variation.

Thanks!