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Author Topic: Trying to make an office ceiling kit  (Read 4989 times)

TL1895

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Trying to make an office ceiling kit
« on: May 02, 2014, 06:02:31 PM »
But I am stuck...
I tried to make one using a 2s array, based on a similar post here, but it is more complicated due to more objects.
Any chance a RC expert might take a stab at getting this to work, or at least point me in the right direction...
I'll upload the scene file and the RCP I'm using, for reference...

Thank you!

Paul Roberts

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Re: Trying to make an office ceiling kit
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2014, 10:17:44 AM »
Hi,

This is a complex style and because there are very few repeating patterns in this ceiling a fair amount of work is required to manually position each type of tile. It can be achieved though by nesting a number of Sequence operators as follows:

  • Create a Sequence operator and leave it set to increment on X. Each input on this operator represents a column in the 2d array running from left to right on your reflected ceiling plan
  • For each unique column create another new Sequence operator, this time set to incremement on  Y. This sequence runs from bottom to top on the RCP
  • The Y incrementing Sequence nodes can now be wired to the inputs of the X Incrementing node giving you the ability to manually control the contents of each column


Using sequence operators also has the advantage of being able to use the Count parameters to repeat segments or columns.



In the attached file I've used this approach to create the lights in your RCP, I haven't added the diffusers but the same principle would apply.


Another alternative approach might be to create the entire ceiling using standard tiles and then convert the RailClone object to instances using RailClone Tools. You could then use 3DS Max's Clone and Align feature or Neil Blevins Object Replacer script to just swap out the necessary tiles for lights, diffusers etc.

Hope this helps, please let me know if you have any further questions.

Thanks,

Paul
Paul Roberts
iToo Software

TL1895

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Re: Trying to make an office ceiling kit
« Reply #2 on: May 03, 2014, 01:23:03 PM »
Wow Paul, that is incredible!  I actually was thinking it would not be possible  :o
Thanks for the example scene, too :)
I think you are probably right about your alternate method for this being about as much work...especially where different ceilings are throughout the job!

Many, many, thanks &
Best regards,
TL1895

TL1895

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Re: Trying to make an office ceiling kit
« Reply #3 on: May 03, 2014, 04:24:35 PM »
Hi Paul,

Well, I do have a question.
I tried to add one tile (the 2x2 with single "can" light) and sort of got it to work.
I tried to add a compose of it to the sequence  containing the 1x4 lights and half tiles.
It added one single one, all the way at top of array, and I could not get past that point.
Do I need to create another sequence for that case?

Here is a pic showing my feeble attempt, hahaha.
Basically, I need to get the red box down to the green box.
And I thought I was starting to really understand this one :-[
Maybe it would be easy at that point to make it as RC instances, but would still like to know how to accomplish it in RC.
Thanks again!

Paul Roberts

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Re: Trying to make an office ceiling kit
« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2014, 01:20:12 PM »
Hi,

You're on the right track. The trick is to make sure that the inputs of the sequence node are wired in the order that you wish them to appear in the array. So having connected the compose operator as in your screenshot, you then need to change the order using the up/down arrows. Here's a full procedure.

  • Create a new Compose operator, rename it Compose Lit and connect in a standard tile and ceiling tile lit
  • Wire the new Compose Lit node to an empty slot in the Sequence operator for the appropriate column.
  • Use the up and down arrows to move the input to the correct position in the array. The inputs represents rows in the column.

  • Adjust the counts of the other compose operators, this is necessary to get the light to display on the correct row. You may also need to connect additional plain tiles above or below the light

Please find this file atached. Hope this helps  :)

Thanks,

Paul
Paul Roberts
iToo Software

TL1895

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Re: Trying to make an office ceiling kit
« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2014, 04:32:18 PM »
Hi Paul, thanks for the update and further explanation.
This plugin, and the minds running it are incredible.
Thanks again,
TL1895