How can I assign a color from a VOP output to an OGL?

[magneto]

I am using a vop material to create a procedural random shader and I added OGL options into the material (using Edit Parameter Interface). But I don't know how I can refer to the output color down the network. If it was a parameter I see in the interface, it's easy but the output doesn't show up when I select the VOP node itself.

Here is the color I am trying to reference:

Thanks

[hopbin9]

I don't think you can from a VOP material. Isn't that network only run at render time. You could run this VOP network as a VOP SOP and update the point color. That would show up in OGL.

[magneto]

Oh does it? How would you run it as VOP SOP? Also if you do that then can you refer to the output color without assigning it to point colors?

[hopbin9]

In Houdini you're responsible for controlling how an object is shown in OpenGL. I find Houdini provides little assistance in getting OGL to render what will happen at render time. Unlike other 3D apps which will bake procedural textures or show 3D noise from materials.

So while you have a VOP material. You might still have to mock up some kind of VOP SOP solution to show colors or some kind of custom attribute.

I've often had to change my approaches to material to make it easier to support OGL. Still, if you get into complex materials that use a lot of different texture layers. OGL becomes a real pair.

Edited February 16, 2012 by hopbin9

[magneto]

I see what you mean. I will leave it as is then I am doing the 3dbuzz tutorial and not sure how to set the OGLs because like you said their randomization is based on copy stamping, etc.