Distributing objects evenly over a sphere

[Brian Jones]

Take a look at the plugin POP2 (Place on Points) you can get it here

https://www.spot4d.co.uk/Plugins.asp

[Chris Smith]

I just did this the other day. Use the ‘point’ Xpresso node. Drop the sphere into it. Take the output of the point node and pipe it into a Psetdata that has a Pborn input. Then use a copy of the Point node to get the number of points out to set the shot input of the Pborn. That way it will only create as many particles as there are points in your object. Then obviously, also pipe the PBorn into a PShape so you can instance an object to the points.

If you want it to be randomly placed and not on points, use the Psurface node.

Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com

[Stu Pond]

Thanks for the advice!

I have the place on points plug in, but it doesn’t look quite right as the points bunch at the top and bottom of the sphere.

I’ve never used Xpresso before, so I’ll give it a go.

Cheers,

Stu

[Brian Jones]

[Stu Pond] “it doesn’t look quite right as the points bunch at the top and bottom of the sphere”

Maybe a different type of sphere, try Octahedron or Icosahedron instead of Standard

[Chris Smith]

Stu, I made you a simple object to do what you want:

https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com/ObjectsOnPoints.c4d.sit

Open it in C4D. Click on the object ‘ObjectOnPoints’ You’ll see 3 parameters:

Surface Object: Drag the object that objects will cling to (must be made editable so it has points).
Instanced object: Object to stick on the points. (doesn’t need to be editable)
Instance size: Self evident.

Then start your timeline at frame zero and hit play and everything will appear. Of course you can hide the surface object so you just see the instances.

Have fun.

Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com

[Stu Pond]

Thanks a bunch for this Chris – much appreciated.

I have been on site this week hence the delay in replying. I will have a look at this over the weekend.

Thanks again for your time,

Stu