mtDualGraph

Overview Video

mtDualGraph generates a new topology from your original base geometry.

It triangulates the mesh and uses a dual graph to produce cells - Triangles or Ngons.

mtDualGraph generates new topology from its child object, in this example a Cube primitive.

Object tab

Selection Map

You can use a vertex map or selection tags to define where new topology is generated.

Drag the tag from the Object Manager into the Selection Map link field.

MeshTools_mtDualGraph_Object_Selection Map_Selection Tag_v04.jpg

The Plane on the left has a polygon selection tag, which is displayed in the viewport. An identical Plane is on the right as a child of a mtDualGraph. New topology is only generated on the selected polygons.

MeshTools_mtDualGraph_Object_Selection Map_Vertex Map Tag_v04.jpg

The Plane on the left has a vertex map, which is displayed in the viewport. An identical Plane is on the right as a child of a mtDualGraph. New topology is only generated on the polygons where there is sufficient vertex weight.

Texture Source

You can use shaders, images and even animated video sequences to define where mtDualGraph will generate new topology.

There are two options: Shader and Texture Tag.

Both modes use color value to define where new topology is generated.

mtDualGraph generates new topology where the brighter color values are in the shader or texture.

Shader mode

Shader

Use the Shader drop-down to select an image, sequence or shader.

The shader procedurally controls where mtDualGraph generates new topology.

Texture Tag mode

This mode requires a Cinema 4D material.

Place the material on the mtDualGraph and you will see a texture tag appear alongside it in the Object Manager.

Drag this texture tag into the Texture Tag link field.

Use the Texture Channel pull-down to select which material channel you wish to reference.

This is set to Color by default.

MeshTools_mtDualGraph_Object_Texture Source_Texture Tag_Gradient Shader.jpg

This Gradient shader restrains mtDualGraph from operating in the bottom left area.

MeshTools_mtDualGraph_Object_Texture Source_Texture Tag_Bitmap.jpg

mtDualGraph operates in areas with light color values which, in this bitmap, is everywhere outside of the logo.

This animation is being used to control mtDualGraph.

Texture Channel

Use the Texture Channel pull-down to select which material channel you wish to reference.

This is set to Color by default.

Tolerance

Use the Tolerance slider to adjust the point at which new topology is generated.

Lower tolerance values will allow darker areas to be included.

Higher tolerance values will allow only lighter areas to be included.

This video demonstrates the Tolerance slider, where high percentages result in less new topology being created.

Dual Graph

New points are generated using the base object’s dual graph; these points are then used to create the new topology.

There are three options, Disabled, Triangles and Ngons.

mtDualGraph with Dual Graph set to the different modes available.

Disabled

With Dual Graph set to Disabled, the original mesh is simply triangulated.

Dual Graph, set to Disabled, triangulating the base geometry, generating four triangular polygons.

Dual Graph, again set to Disabled, triangulating the base geometry. generating four triangular polygons for each initial polygon.

Triangles

This uses the dual graph of the triangulated base mesh to create a new topology consisting of triangles.

Dual Graph set to Triangles uses the central points from the triangulated mesh and creates this pattern as a result of the Triangles formula.

Ngons

This uses the dual graph of the triangulated base mesh to create a new topology consisting of Ngons.

Dual Graph, set to Ngons, generates this topology using the Ngons formula.

Triangulation

mtDualGraph generates new triangulated topology from the base mesh.

There are two options: Quads and Quads/Tris.

Quads

If Triangulation is set to Quads, mtDualGraph will triangulate any four-sided polygons and ignore three-sided polygons.

The base mesh is made up of three and four-sided polygons. On the right there is a duplicate mesh as a child of the mtDualGraph, which is triangulating the four-sided polygons but ignoring the three-sided polygons.

Quads/Tris

Changing Triangulation to Quads/Tris will also enable mtDualGraph to generate new topology from three-sided polygons.

MeshTools_mtDualGraph_Triangulation_Quads and Tris_v04.jpg

With Triangulation set to Quads/Tris, mtDualGraph is processing both three and four-sided polygons.

Hide Faces

Hide Generated

When enabled, newly generated topology is hidden.

Hide Non-Generated

When enabled, original base-mesh is hidden.

MeshTools_mtDualGraph_Hide Faces_Hide None.jpg

With both disabled, you get the full generation.

MeshTools_mtDualGraph_Hide Faces_Hide Generated.jpg

Enabling Hide Generated will hide the newly generated topology.

MeshTools_mtDualGraph_Hide Faces_Hide Non-Generated.jpg

If you enable Hide Non-Generated, topology that has not been generated by mtDualGraph is hidden.

Selections tab

You can create polygon selections based on the mtDualGraph operation.

Selections can be visualized by activating Display Selection.

You can change the color of the displayed selection using the color picker.

None

The Selections tab offers selection tag and viewport options.

Generated

Create a polygon selection tag from newly generated topology.

Non-Generated

Create a polygon selection tag from any remaining base-mesh topology.

Advanced tab

Optimize

Newly generated topology can include duplicated points and surfaces.

These can be eliminated by selecting Optimize.

Polygons

One or two point surfaces will be eliminated.

Unused Points

Any unused points will be deleted.

Points

Duplicated points will be eliminated.

Tolerance

Duplicated points are merged if they are within the Tolerance range setting.

Fields tab

You can use the Fields options to control where mtDualGraph operates.

Animation showing the Torus Field moving from left to right.

mtDualGraph is active inside of the Torus.