Controls based on Camera Proximity | Houdini | The Calibrator Toolset HDA

[Sharan]

Hi everyone,

I have developed an HDA that can adjust attributes and fields based on camera proximity.

The Calibrator Toolset is a comprehensive HDA (Houdini Digital Asset) designed for intricate attribute and field control based on camera proximity. Its primary functionality includes dynamically scaling particles or reducing density as they approach or move away from the camera and can be customized to adapt to any attribute or field. It operates seamlessly with animated cameras, facilitating complex visual adjustments.

Key Features:

1. Dynamic Controls: The Calibrator Toolset enables precise data manipulation. This functionality works seamlessly across different attributes and volumes, allowing for versatile adjustments in visual compositions.

2.Camera-Based Clip Adjustment: It provides the capability to adjust both far and near clip planes dynamically based on the camera's position or movement, ensuring consistency and accuracy in visual representation. Users can adjust settings based on individual attributes and volumes and enable global settings when needed.

3.Adaptability with Animated Cameras: The tool seamlessly integrates with animated cameras, maintaining functionality and accuracy even in complex animation setups.

4.Custom Clipping per Input: The tool allows users to customize settings based on the input attribute/field or use a global clipping setting throughout the tool. This gives artists control to adjust values based on requirements of the shot.

5. Easy to Use: An intuitive shelf tool and menu system simplifies complex processes for effortless integration into production pipelines. Users benefit from user-friendly functions and accessible guides within the viewport, enhancing usability and streamlining their workflow. The underlying code leverages various calculations and attribute/field manipulations to achieve these dynamic adjustments. It operates efficiently across particle and volume/vdb data, employing distance calculations, attribute mapping, and conditional operations to precisely modify while allowing artistic liberty.

 

I have used this tool in several projects when making setups and executing sequences with multiple shots. The goal is to never have intrusive elements in the camera from the get go. Its handy when corrections need to be made on the fly and can be used in multiple scenarios such as adjusting motion blur and velocity which is too close to the camera, adjusting exposure values for shaders and even creating handy AOVs based on camera proximity.

Edited December 29, 2023 by Sharan