aachman98 / sorcar

Procedural modeling in Blender using Node Editor

Sorcar

Procedural modeling in Blender using Node Editor

BlenderArtist Thread: https://blenderartists.org/t/sorcar-procedural-modeling-in-blender-using-node-editor/1156769
Intro & Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZiIC3gdS_O7nCm1-xpWbZmTQWeL5c6KV
Trello (Project Tracker): https://trello.com/b/aKIFRoTh/sorcar
Documentation: https://github.com/aachman98/Sorcar/wiki

About

Sorcar is a procedural modeling node-based system which utilises Blender and its Python API to create a visual programming environment for artists and developers. Heavily inspired by Side-FX Houdini, it presents a node editor with a variety of modular nodes to make the modelling workflow easier and fast. Most of the nodes are blender internal operations (bpy.ops.mesh/object) which also makes it easier for frequent blender users to manipulate geometry. It helps the users to quickly create 3D models and control node parameters to generate limitless variations in a non-destructive manner. It also provides the users to view and edit mesh on any stage of the node network independently, with realtime updates.

Release & Instructions

Latest Release (v3.2.1)
Requirement: Blender 2.81 or later

1. Download the zip file and install it as a Blender addon (Edit -> Preferences... -> Add-ons -> Install...)
2. Open Sorcar Node Editor (Do not remove the 3D viewport as it is required by some operations like extrude, transform, ...)
3. Click on the + button to create a new tree
4. Press Shift+A to open the nodes menu. Alternatively, navigate through tabs on the Right panel in the node editor
5. Select the desired node and press "Set Preview"

Open blender using a command prompt to view logs and errors, if encountered.

Features

	VISUAL PROGRAMMING Don't like programming? Construct geometries using custom algorithms, maths or generate patterns without writing a single line of code!
NON-DESTRUCTIVE WORKFLOW Want to change cylinder vertices after bevel? Edit node parameters at any point without the fear of losing mesh data. Also apply same procedural operations to different objects easily.
	REAL-TIME UPDATES Quick as the wind... Drive a parameter using current frame value (or manually change it) and see the mesh update in viewport.
ITERATE & RANDOMIZE Need multiple extrusions of random amount? Generate variations in mesh by using seed-controlled pseudorandom numbers. Use loops to handle repeatitive operations with same level of randomness.
	AUTOMATION Modify, Save, Repeat... Use frame number to drive seed value and batch export the meshes in different files.
250+ NODES At your service! A growing list of functions available as nodes (operators & scene settings) including custom inputs, curve/mesh conversion, selection & transform tools, modifiers and component level operators.

• Node-Groups to collapse big node networks into a single node with custom inputs & outputs
• Simplified node sockets with internal data conversion for the convenience of users.
• Colour-coded nodes (preview, error, invalid inputs etc.) for easier debugging.
• Multi-level heirarchy & auto-registration of classes for easy development of custom nodes in any category (existing or new).

and more...!

Nodes

	Inputs Primitive Meshes (Cube, Cylinder, Sphere, ...), Empty Object, Import FBX, Custom Object from the scene, Create Object using arrays of Vertices, Edges & Faces
	Curves Custom Curve from the scene, Text, Import SVG, Geometry/Shape/Spline Properties, Mesh-Curve or Curve-Mesh Conversion
	Transform Set/Add/Randomize transform (Edit/Object mode), Apply/Copy transform in world/local axes, Create custom orientation
	Selection Manual, invert/toggle, loops, random, similar components or by their property (location, index, normal, material, ...)
	Deletion Delete/Dissolve selected components (or loops)
	Component Operators Bevel, Decimate, Extrude, Fill, Inset, Loop Cut, Merge, Offset Loop, Poke, Screw, Spin, Subdivide, UV Map, Assign material or vertex groups
	Object Operators Duplicate, Raycast/Overlap, Merge, Scatter, Set/Clear Parent, Voxel/QuadriFlow Remesh, Shading, Viewport Draw Mode
	Modifiers Array, Bevel, Boolean, Build, Cast, Curve, Decimate, Remesh, Shrinkwrap, Skin, Solidify, Subsurf, Wave, Weighted Normal, Wireframe
	Constants Number (Float/Int/Angle/Random), Bool, Vector, String, Selection Type (Face/Vert/Edge)
	Arrays Create/Append Arrays, Add/Remove elements, Reverse, Search, Clear, Count, Get
	Noise Cell (Vector/Float), Fractal, Multi-Fractal, Hetero-Terrain, Ridged, Turbulence (Vector/Float), Variable Lacunarity, Voronoi
	Utilities String/Bool/Vector ops, Maths, Clamp, Map, Trigonometry, Get/Set Variables, Node-Groups, Scene/Component/Object Info, Custom Python Script
	Flow Control For loop, For-Each loop (Array/Components), If-Else Branch
	Settings Cursor Transform, Edit Mode, Pivot Point, Snapping, Proportional Editing, Transform Orientation

Upcoming Feature

1. Export nodes as python code
2. Send to UE4/Unity (live-link)
3. Point scatter & voronoi fracture nodes
4. Debugging tools: Watch/track values of node parameters

Future

1. Complete integration with Blender's internal dependency graph
2. Node-Viewport link: Create nodes automatically in editor based on actions in 3D viewport
3. Landscape (noise/masking/erosion) and Foliage (grass/bush/trees) nodes

Showcase

Changelog

v3.2.1

• Added support for object registration & unregistration on each evaluation (handled by nodetree instead of individual nodes)
• Added custom variables in "Custom Python Script" node: _C (bpy context), _D (bpy data), _O (bpy ops), _S (context scene), _N (self node), _NT (self nodetree), _VAR (nodetree variables), _IN (input socket data)
• Added "Select by Index Array" selection node
• Added "Default" input socket in "Get Variable" node to set value if variable not initialised
• Added "Hide Original" bool input prop in "Scatter" node
• Added "Clear Variables" nodetree property in "Properties" UI panel to clear data on re-evaluation
• Added "Clear Preview" operator (shortcut: Alt+E) to clear current preview node
• Added "Execute Node" & "Clear Preview" ops to "Utilities" UI panel
• Improved "Send to Sverchok" node to include selection mask with mesh data sent
• Improved "Receive from Sverchok" node to set selection mask to mesh data received
• Improved "Get/Set Variable" nodes to initialise empty variable in nodetree before accessing property
• Improved "Execute Node" operator: removed redundant tree type check
• Improved "apply_all_modifiers" & "remove_object" helper methods
• Fixed "Separate" node: object array output instead of single object
• Fixed socket interface classes for node-groups
• Fixed "Select Vertices by Connection": switch to vertex mode before selection
• Renamed "Merge" & "Delete" nodes: added "Component" suffix
• Renamed "Cursor" node to "Cursor Transform"
• Renamed "File" input socket to "Directory" in "Export FBX" node

v3.2.0

• Added "Node Group" utility node
• Added "Group Nodes" and "Edit Group" operators to create/modify node groups
• Added new keymaps for creating and editing node groups (Ctrl+G, Tab)
• Added UI panel base class and 3 new panels: "Properties", "Utilities" and "Node Groups"
• Added "Send to Sverchok" utility node to pass mesh data (verts/edges/faces) to Sverchok node (Requires "Receive From Sorcar" node in Sverchok nodetree; awaiting PR #3281)
• Added "Receive from Sverchok" input node to fetch mesh data (verts/edges/faces) from Sverchok node (Requires "Send To Sorcar" node in Sverchok nodetree; W.I.P.)
• Added "Text Block" constant node to output multi-line string from Text Editor
• Added node interface base class and sub-classes for all sockets to support node-groups (with custom properties)
• Added Wiki and Bug Reporter links in add-ons manager (#127)
• Improved object input nodes to clean up geometry when removed
• Improved socket base class to show error icon when execution fails
• Improved "Custom Object" input node: inherit from input base class, apply all modifiers before execution
• Improved Import/Export nodes to select directory path using file picker UI
• Improved "Material Parameter" node to show all available nodes & sockets as a drop-down (search)
• Improved "Scene Info" node: added new outputs for world unit scale length, active/selected/all objects from the scene; removed "Realtime" tree property
• Improved "Duplicate Object" node: added "Linked" input socket
• Improved "get_override" and "sc_poll_op" helper methods
• Improved all operators: show tooltips, new category (prefix)
• Improved all socket base classes to support node-groups
• Fixed socket base class to avoid executing node-group input nodes
• Fixed "Dissolve" node
• Fixed nodetree execution
• Fixed "Array" socket label (length of the evaluated array)
• Fixed "Instancing" node

v3.1.6

• Added "Set Dimensions" & "Set Object Name" object operator nodes
• Added "Add ..." input nodes to append primitive object geometry to current object
• Added "set_preview" method in nodetree class
• Added curve ops base class & "Curve Shape/Geometry/Spline Properties" nodes
• Improved "Object Info" node to output object's name, dimensions and bounding box vertices
• Improved "Component Info" node to output face area
• Renamed input nodes to "Create ..." (added prefix)
• Renamed "update_ext" nodetree method to "set_value"
• Fixed "remove_object" helper function
• Fixed vertex group selection & component operator nodes
• Fixed "get_override" helper method to search for correct window/area/region

v3.1.5

• Added keymap support to quickly execute selected node (Key: 'E')
• Added new "Curve" category & socket to handle objects with curve data
• Added method for modifying node parameter externally (automatically re-evaluates nodetree)
• Added "Import SVG" & "Text" curve input nodes
• Added "Convert to Mesh" & "Convert to Curve" nodes
• Added "Create Object" input node
• Added "QuadriFlow Remesh" object operator node
• Added "Warp" & "Randomize Vertices" transform nodes
• Added Weld, Lattice, Shrinkwrap & Weighted Normal modifier nodes
• Added "Proportional Editing" & "Snap" settings node
• Added "Clear Parent", "Get Parent", & "Get Children" object operator nodes
• Improved "Scatter" node to support instanced scattering
• Improved "Maths Operation" node to include more operations & better menu layout
• Improved "Parent" node to include option to set the inverse parent correction
• Improved "Skin Modifier" node to allow skin resize for selected vertices
• Renamed transform nodes to "World/Local Transform"
• Fixed issue with Crease, Edge-Slide, Skin-Resize local transform
• Fixed custom object/curve nodes to hide original object
• Fixed issue with rerouting socket connections
• Fixed transform nodes to use snapping & proportional editing settings
• Fixed object deletion helper method to remove orphaned data
• Fixed "Select Nth" node parameter minimum value

v3.1.4

• Added "Voxel Remesh" object operator node
• Added "Raycast (Scene)" utility node (renamed "Raycast" to "Raycast (Object)")
• Added "Instancing" & "Parent" object operator nodes
• Added "Empty" and "Single Vertex" input nodes
• Added "Hide/Unhide Component" and "Mark Component" nodes
• Fixed "Element" output pin type of "Begin For-Each Loop" node
• Fixed issue with addon activation
• Fixed int conversion in "Shortest Path" selection nodes

v3.1.3

• Added "For-Each Component Loop" nodes
• Added "Get/Set Variable" nodes
• Added "To Sphere" transform node
• Added "Select Vertices by Connections" selection node
• Fixed issue with reset() attribute
• Improved "For" & "For-Each" loop nodes
• Improved "Select Manually" node

v3.1.2

• Added noise nodes (cell, fractal, voronoi, ...) in a new category "Noise"
• Added array operation nodes (add, remove, search, ...) in a new category "Arrays"
• Added "Material Parameter" node
• Renamed "Edit Mode" node to "Set Selection Mode"
• Moved "Get Element" & "Make Array" node to "Arrays" category
• Added selection type input socket in "Set Selection Mode" node
• Added custom overridable method for socket layout drawing
• Removed redundant sorcar_updater folder (also added in gitignore)

v3.1.1

• Added addon updator by CGCookie
• Fixed issue with realtime update checkbox in "Scene Info" node
• New socket type: Selection Type
• Ability to change selection type directly though selection nodes
• Added issue templates for bug report & feature request

v3.1.0

• Support for Blender 2.8
• New architecture for data flow node executions
• Improved socket types and node hierarchy
• Internal data conversions

Contributors

• @tomoaki-e33 (Tomoaki Nakano) - Active Developer (#107, #110, #111)
• @devilvalley (袁腾鹏) - Bug fix in "Select Nth" selection node (#106)
• @CORPSE-SYS - Active Developer (#83, #96)
• @zebus3d - Active Developer (#88, #90, #104)
• @CGCookie (CG Cookie) - Addon updater (Github)
• @8176135 - Individual edit mode type in selection nodes using a new socket (#80)
• @BrentARitchie - Documentation Maintainer
• @huiyao8761380 (TangHui) - Documentation Maintainer
• @Megalomaniak (Felix Kütt) - Documentation Structuring
• @kichristensen (Kim Christensen) - Port Sorcar (v2) to Blender 2.80 (#54)
• @SevenNeumann (Mark) - Icons for Sorcar & layout design for main menu (#46)

And the amazing BlenderArtists community!

sorcar's Issues

Shading smooth for hardsurface

Can you maybe add a extra option for the node set shading smooth for hardsurface ( auto smooth for example 30 or lower or higher etc...

Set location /Rotation /Scale

Set location /Rotation /Scale is this the same like Apply Location / Rotation/Scale in object mode ?

I think this works not the correct or do you use these node for other things

Some Nodes have the same name with Search

If you use search some off the nodes have the same name
Maybe you can rename it to Bevel Mesh and Bevel Component

Select Nth with Array can this be done ?

Basic example :
Procgen Cicle Array .zip

Resize uniform or Random

Random resize works fine , but is there maybe a solution that you can random uniform scale

Sometimes you need complete random x-y-z
Or uniform resize x&y or xyz or yz

if you move your object you get another random value this is maybe nice for animation but not if you need the same random look ,

Maybe refresh random node all the time or just one time and keep the same value

Can this be done in the future ?

Installing Sorcar 3.0 Alpha as ZIP does not show up under addon

It bothers me but the zip install of the addon and it is not showing up in the addon list. Do I need to change the zip name or something? Thanks!

Request : Edge split node & Modifier

Can you maybe add edge split for component mode and the modifier edge split for mesh

Scatter node need a better solution to align objects

is there maybe in the future a better solution for to align the objects like you can do like with sverchok see example ,

Can't install v2.1 on Blender 2.80.

Downloaded v2.1 zip and tried to install it as Blender 2.80 add-on. Didn't get any errors, but Sorcar is not showing in the add-on list and there is no "Node Editor" to open. Did I miss any steps? Thanks!

New math operation : need some correction

New math operation works fine except if you use 0 : for example i you want to drive the radius/size from a cube and if you use 0+0 then you get no output but the user think now i have a cube with radius 0 but instead he get a cube with the default radius off 1
The same with - substract or multiply

Object Ref sockets change active object

Nodes having mesh selection sockets change active selected object to the one created by linked network on execution (e.g: array modifier node)

Extrude edges mirror ON/Off make no difference

Extrude edges from a cone i think there is a problem with the normals , can you take a look to this

Rotate X Y Z or -X - Y - Z

Rotate works fine only the user have no idea if he use xor y or z etc....

Vectorization / Multiple Values does not work?

I continue to explore Sorcar now that I have time. I still have issue in how to generate multiple values like to generate random offset poke or extrude. It should be logical, but still unsure how to go about doing this?

I use Sverchok a lot and got used to be able to just: Generate Random Values in Range, etc and then plug it into the next node.

Do we actually need Loop in order to generate Multiple Values?

Refresh Mesh Output gives error, and no output mesh

This is a really weird error or bug that preventing me to use Sorcar (previously ProcGenMod).

I am using Mac and this has been quite bugging me since last time. I remember having this bug and none work and so I gave up. And today I decided to look this add-on again and pretty impressed by what it has become with all new nodes etc.

HOWEVER, I just wanted to make and output a mesh with Refresh Mesh Output node and nothing happen, instead I am getting this error:

Am I doing anything wrong?

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/Users/jimmyg/Library/Application Support/Blender/2.79/scripts/addons/Sorcar-master/__init__.py", line 501, in execute
    node.execute()
AttributeError: 'ShaderNodeCombineXYZ' object has no attribute 'execute'

location: <unknown location>:-1

Random Error Message 2, No Output Mesh

Keep getting this... and no mesh generated. I think the refresh mesh has issue.

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/Users/jimmyg/Library/Application Support/Blender/2.79/scripts/addons/ProcGenMod-master-2/__init__.py", line 434, in execute
    node.execute()
AttributeError: 'ShaderNodeCombineXYZ' object has no attribute 'execute'

location: <unknown location>:-1

ShaderNodeMapping: doesn't have attribute "execute"

Calling "Execute Node" operator (bpy.ops.sc.execute_node()) in some cases results in:

(Even on blank project)

EDIT: Happens on linux

Introductory tutorials for beginners.

Hello. Sorry if this is not the right place to ask this type of question. Please let me know if there's a more appropriate venue.

I just started playing with this add-on and it seems very promising. Are there any plans to create some introductory tutorials for beginners? The videos linked to in the description are very impressive in showing what sorcar can do, but it would be nice to see how to build those node trees from scratch.

New Color connection some off them use the same colors

Some node nodes from the new system use the same color connection points , this is verry difficult to understand

for example normally you use white to white & black to black etc... but with the red input or output there are different options , the user have no idea or indication if this is correct or not .

Maybe better to use the same color for value another color for Swith ON/OFF etc....

Cannot use "Pivot Center" twice

The first node encountered works fine, but the next one in the network has no effect.

Extrude Faces : name is not correct

Extrude faces : maybe better to rename this to extrude individual faces

Memory Usage

I've noticed that the memory usage just keeps going up and up and does not get freed if you change the seed value on a select random node. The memory does not go down if you delete the object either. You have to restart blender to free up memory.

With search select sharp edges : 2 nodes with the same name

If you use Search select sharp edges : i have 2 nodes with the same name is this correct ?

Set Shading smooth /flat and by angle works fine : Thanks

Can we use Float Random to have Multiple Values ...

... for Extrusion?

I tried this but it does not quite work the way I would imagine. Perhaps there is a trick to make it so that Extrusion can have random multiple values?

Search Node by Name does not work in some Blender version...

I am using multiple Blender 2.79 and somewhat the "Search node by name" does not work in some version of Blender (more recents). Any idea?

Node tree linker (selector) resets when changed

Icon is also different

Sorcar not installing / Linux

ProcGenMod installs and shows up in the node list.

Removed ProcGenMod. Saved. Restarted.

Installed Sorcar. Not showing up in the node list.

Removed Sorcar. Reinstalled ProcGenMod. Showed up in the node list.

Connection Points to better organize the Nodes

I think with the addon wrangler you can make some extra connection points , this can be a good idea for in the future to better organize the nodes

Group nodes etc... Not importent for the moment , but maybe for the future

See basic example :

Thanks for the new update for the boolean modifier node works fine .

Select Nth does not really select

When I am using Select Nth, with previous node deselecting all, I am getting error.

Apparently I need to Select All Face beforehand, before being able to select Nth. Is this by design?

How can i remove doubles

Basic idea : but can find a component to remove the double vertices : is there maybe a easy solution for in the future ?

Request Access to drive parameters from the resize node

The random loop nodes works fine but can this be combined with the resize node
Do you have plans to expose these parameters so that they can be driven by the random float etc..

Drivers aren't working

Vector values in linear layout

Need to expand node to a huge size before the vector values are visible

Node Frame First Time ... what? Random error no Output.

Keep getting this error when I click on Refresh Mesh (Mesh Output)

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/Users/jimmyg/Library/Application Support/Blender/2.79/scripts/addons/ProcGenMod-master-2/__init__.py", line 377, in execute
    node.first_time = True
AttributeError: 'NodeFrame' object has no attribute 'first_time'

location: <unknown location>:-1

Cannot get any output 😔 never happened before.

ProcGenMod is clashing with Sverchok "search"

Not sure how this can be handled, you might need to talk to SV developers.

But I found that your ProcGenMod is clashing with Sverchok Search.

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/Users/jimmyg/Library/Application Support/Blender/2.79/scripts/addons/sverchok-master-6/utils/sv_extra_search.py", line 165, in invoke
    loop['results'] = gather_items()
  File "/Users/jimmyg/Library/Application Support/Blender/2.79/scripts/addons/sverchok-master-6/utils/sv_extra_search.py", line 108, in gather_items
    fx.append((str(idx), ensure_valid_show_string(item), '', idx))
  File "/Users/jimmyg/Library/Application Support/Blender/2.79/scripts/addons/sverchok-master-6/utils/sv_extra_search.py", line 66, in ensure_valid_show_string
    description = nodetype.bl_rna.get_shorthand()
AttributeError: 'Node' object has no attribute 'get_shorthand'

location: <unknown location>:-1

Also on the other hand, ProcGenMod "search" does not work on Blender version 2.79 latest.

Soccar enable And Sverchok Sv nodes conflict with Search

Enable Soccar
Enable Sv node
Search with Sv node Error
Disable Soccar now Sv node search works correct but not if you enable Sv nodes and Soccar

New Shading : Auto smooth By Angle is not working

Old meshes do not get deleted on update

On update, the input nodes execute and delete the object, but not the mesh. A new mesh is created and stacked onto the list of old meshes.

Request for Soccar displacement modifier

Can this be done with Soccar in the Future

Plugin Interferes with Shader editor toolbar

Plugin Interferes with Shader editor toolbar

Why ProcGenMod node looks like empty frame...?

Not the first time getting this, in the past it was Cylinder node, now this:

Boolean modifier

Boolean works fine , only one problem if you change the size from the other object then you must always reselect the booleon object names etc...:

Is there maybe a better solution for in the future

Cannot install this addon now.... 😔

Error message:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/Users/jimmyg/Downloads/blender-2.79.0-git20181004.9a674a749b1-x86_64/blender.app/Contents/Resources/2.79/scripts/modules/addon_utils.py", line 351, in enable
    mod = __import__(module_name)
  File "/Users/jimmyg/Library/Application Support/Blender/2.79/scripts/addons/ProcGenMod-master-4/__init__.py", line 23, in <module>
    class PcgPreferences(bpy.types.AddonPreferences):
  File "/Users/jimmyg/Library/Application Support/Blender/2.79/scripts/addons/ProcGenMod-master-4/__init__.py", line 26, in PcgPreferences
    prop_addon_location = StringProperty(name="Addon Location", default=getenv("APPDATA")+"/Blender Foundation/Blender/2.79/scripts/addons/ProcGenMod-master/__init__.py", description="DO NOT change unless the addon is installed in a different location")
TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'str'

Sorcar will cause Modular Tree error

Sorcar will cause Modular Tree's add nodes fails.
https://github.com/MaximeHerpin/modular_tree

Origin node returns NoneType

Scatter Vertices

Scatter from vertices need some correction :

Whoopsie: In the latest version, Cylinder node does not have output...

It's probably a human error :D

I remember it was working before.

Bevel restrict by angle detection ( sharp edges )

I think the bevel modifier need some finetuning

Request : Shading Smooth

Shading smooth can this be done inside the node editor , because if you change some off the settings it switch back to flat shading .

To control SC node using SV node?

I am doing a test where I am using SVerchok node to control SorCar. Apparentlhy Sorcar does not seem to it when attribute value is changing from outside and somewhat I am getting an error, no mesh output and everything break.

I have not tested with Drivers or animation to contor Sorcar, but with above setup I am doing why is it Sorcar failed in generating and updating the mesh?