'''
Linked Chain

Creates a Torus like object, links them together as linked Chain and positions the chain along a curve

Example:
1. Select a curve in Maya
2. Execute command:

Poly_Linked_Chain(radius = 1, sectionradius =0.1, extrude = 1, variation = 20, name="chain").createChainForSelectedCurve()

Created on May 7, 2013

@author: Neal Buerger www.nealbuerger.com
'''
import pymel.core as pm
import random

class Poly_Linked_Chain:
    
    def __init__(self, **kwargs):
        """
        Accepts following Keywords:
        radius: of the Torus created (Default 1)
        sectionradius: of the Torus (Default 0.1)
        extrude: length of the torus extrusion (Default 0)
        variation: along the rotation of the linked elements (Default 0)
        name: name of the chain (Default chain)
        """
        
        self.radius = kwargs.get("radius" ,1)
        self.sectionradius = kwargs.get("sectionradius" ,0.1)
        self.extrude = kwargs.get("extrude" ,0)
        self.variation = kwargs.get("variation" ,0)
        if self.variation < 0:
            self.variation = abs(self.variation)
        if  self.variation > 45:
            self.variation = 45
        
        self.name = kwargs.get("name" , "chain")
        self.name = self.name + str(len(pm.ls(regex= "%s\d*" % self.name))+1)
        
  
   
    def createLink(self):
        """
        creates a Torus and extrudes half of it
        To be used as alternative to a provided geometry
        
        """
        basechain = pm.polyTorus(radius = self.radius, sr = self.sectionradius, tw= 0, sx = 20, sy = 20, ax = (0,1,0), ch = 1)[0]    
        if self.extrude is not 0:
            faces = []
            for j in basechain.vtx:
                if j.getPosition()[0] > 0:
                    faces.append(j.connectedFaces())
            pm.polyExtrudeFacet(faces, translateX=self.extrude)
        return basechain
        
    
    def makeChain(self, obj, linklenght, chainlenght, preserveObj = False):
        """
        Uses provided geometry to create a straight chain
        
        obj: object to be used for the chain
        linklenght: lenght of the obj
        chainlenght: number of links that are created
        """
        if preserveObj:
            obj = pm.duplicate(obj, un=True)[0]
        pm.move(obj, 0,0,0)
        chain = [obj]
            
        rotValue = 0
        for i in range(1, chainlenght):
            obj = pm.duplicate(chain[0])[0]
            rotValue += 90 + random.randint(-self.variation, self.variation)
            if rotValue >= 360:
                rotValue -= 360
            pm.rotate(obj, [rotValue, 0, 0])        
            distance = linklenght * i
            pm.move(obj, distance,0,0)
            chain.append(obj)
        return chain
    
    def rigChain(self, chain):
        """
        takes chain and adds joints and a smooth bind to rig it
        
        chain: list of objects 
        """
        pm.select(deselect = True)
        jnts = []
        for obj in chain:
            pos = obj.translateX.get(), obj.translateY.get(), obj.translateZ.get()
            jnt =  pm.joint(p = pos)
            jnts.append(jnt)
            pm.rename(jnt, self.name + "_joint%d" % len(jnts))
        linked = pm.polyUnite(chain, ch = 0)[0]
        self.name = pm.rename(linked, self.name)
        pm.skinCluster(linked, jnts[0])
        return jnts
    
    def addClusterHandles(self, crv):
        """
        Adds Cluster Handles to Curve for every cv
        """
        for i in crv.cv:
            pm.parent(pm.cluster(i), crv)
    
    def createChainForCurve(self, crv, obj = None, linklenght = 1):
        """
        Uses the Curve and creates a chain based on the object that is passed into the function
        
        crv = curve to be used
        obj = object to be used
        linklength = lenght of the obj
        """
                
        if obj is None:
            obj = self.createLink()
            linklenght = (2*(self.radius - self.sectionradius*2)+self.extrude)
        chainlenght = int(pm.PyNode(crv).length()/linklenght)
        chain = self.makeChain(obj = obj, linklenght = linklenght, chainlenght = chainlenght)
        jnts = self.rigChain(chain)
        
        ik = pm.ikHandle( startJoint=jnts[0], endEffector=jnts[-1], solver='ikSplineSolver', createCurve=False, curve=crv)[0]
        pm.rename(ik, self.name + "_ikHandle")
            
        ctrlgrp = pm.group(jnts[0], ik, n = "%sctrl_grp" % self.name)
        ctrlgrp.v.set(False)
        pm.group(crv, self.name, ctrlgrp, n = "%s_grp" % self.name)
        
        self.addClusterHandles(crv)
        pm.select(deselect = True)
        
        return self.name
    
    
    def createChainForSelectedCurve(self):
        """
        Creates Chains for selected curves
        """
        return [self.createChainForCurve(i) for i in pm.ls(sl =True, tr=True) if pm.nodeType(i.getShape()) == "nurbsCurve"]
        
    
    def deleteRig(self, name):
        """
        Removes Rig from geometry
        
        name: name of geometry
        """
        parent = pm.PyNode(name).getParent()
        pm.delete(name, ch = True)
        pm.parent(name, w = True)
        pm.delete(parent)
        
        

The new version of Maya has been released and it has the NEX modelling tool-set integrated.

Download: http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-maya/free-trial

Bonus Tools 2014

As usual a new updated version of the bonus tools is available.

More information: http://area.autodesk.com/bonus_tools

Download (from Autodesk Exchange): http://apps.exchange.autodesk.com/MAYA/Detail/Index?id=appstore.exchange.autodesk.com%3aautodeskmayabonustools2014%3aen

Choosing the Laptop Series

The first step is to figure out the technical specifications and what kind of laptop you want to have.

You can choose as a normal person from the Laptops available from “Privatkunden” (If you are representing a school etc. other benefits are also available, for simplicity we will just go with a average consumer).

Currently all 14” Laptops have a HD+ display and all 15” Laptops have a FullHD (1920×1080) display.

In this category there are two product lines: The cheaper Inspiron series and the more expensive XPS line (Only the XPS 14 and XPS 15 are Laptops, all other Models in the series are touch devices).

If you do not find a suitable laptop you also can look in the “Mittelstand” Category (However sales tax has to be added to the price)

Getting the best deal

Ok choosing the Laptop series was the easy part. To get the best deal you got to use coupons. In many cases you save 100Eur or more, or you get a laptop with better technical specifications for a lower price. Coupons are even available for laptops that are currently on sale.

So where do you get these Coupons? For one they are located on the top of the website. (Usually you just scroll down and miss them)

Location of the Coupons

In addition coupons are available when you subscribe to newsletters. Specialized sites like http://dell.awardspace.info/ collect and display current coupons available. (When you scroll all the way down on that site you can select your series laptop and the various coupons are then displayed)

When buying the laptop, you have to try out different combinations of the available coupons to get the best deal.

You usually only can apply a single coupon for a laptop. However, an independent coupon to discount the shipping costs is usually available.

When all is said and done, the price of the laptop is reduced by 100-200eur, making it competitive to laptops available in stores or Amazon. Frankly, I believe if Dell would simply apply their coupons directly and not have customers go on a coupon hunt they would sell more laptops.

This basic script bevels the hard edges on all selected objects.

import pymel.core as pm

def obj_is_poly(obj):
    #Evaluates if Object is Polygon
    return pm.nodeType(obj) is "mesh"

def bevelHardEdges(obj, offset = 0.5, segments = 1):
    if obj_is_poly(obj):
        pm.select(obj)
        pm.polySelectConstraint( m=3, t=0x8000, sm=1 ) # to get hard edges
        pm.polyBevel(offset = offset, segments = segments,autoFit = True, offsetAsFraction = True, fillNgons = True)

def bevelHardEdgesOnSelected():
    for item in pm.selected():
        bevelHardEdges(item.getShape())

bevelHardEdgesOnSelected()

Get it for free from: https://sourceforge.net/projects/mrviewer/files/

Download here

Left Normal Spotlight, Right IES Light

The Illumination Engineering Society (or short IES) standard format file stores information about the distribution of light from a particular source.  The distribution of light is dependent on the various reflective materials used in the light bulb.

To enhance the realism in mental ray renders the mia_photometric_light node can process IES files.

How to obtain IES Files?

There are several sampling methods available to sample existing light bulbs. However most light bulb manufactures offer free downloads of IES Profiles.

Phillips Light bulbs:

http://www.usa.lighting.philips.com/connect/tools_literature/photometric_data_1_a.wpd

Or for full overkill a couple of IES files collections:

http://www.c4dcafe.com/ipb/files/file/804-whthawks-ies-light-collection/

http://mayazest.blogspot.de/2012/02/free-light-ies-files.html

Tools to Preview and Modifiy IES Files

IES Creator by Rip 3D: http://www.rip3d.net/web/en.html#/free/downloads

A great tutorial on the subject of creating, manipulating IES-files can be found here:

http://jamiecardoso-mentalray.blogspot.de/2012/12/creating-customised-ies-web-lights-for.html

Maya Setup

Install Maya 2013 SP2 several bugs were fixed concerning the mia_photometric_light node. Download it from here: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=20537489&linkID=9242259

The mia_photometric_light attribute editor is slightly confusing. A more easier interface provides this template:

http://www.creativecrash.com/maya/downloads/scripts-plugins/interface-display/c/mia_photometric_light-ae-template

Download and copy the file to ..\Documents\maya\2013\scripts

How to use IES Files?

1. Create a spotlight and position it. (Never scale the light, it creates odd errors)
2. In the mental ray section create a new Light Shader > mia_photographic_light
3. Define your IES Profile (If no profile is defined the node acts as a pointlight)
4. The easiest way to set the Intensity mode is to use the Light Profile itself.

Applied IES-light

Note: Depending on the scale of your scene you have to  set “Maya Units to meter Scale” (when using cm as unit set it to 100)

To prevent the video from playing simply go to the folder <UDKInstallation>\UDKGame\Movie and rename “UE3_logo.bik” to “xUE3_logo.bik”

You can open the console and start your game/map you are working on with:

UDK.exe <Mapname>

Compiling code:

Udk.exe -make

However in the final deployment of the game the logo may have to be included again.

Remote Events

Remote Events are used to access Kismet subsequences. To successfully use Remote Events you need a “Remote Event” node and a corresponding “Activate Remote Event” node.

1. RMB anywhere in Kismet and select new Sequence, name it lampost_Kismet
2. RMB > New Event > Remote Event
3. The Event name has to be unique and meaningful (so something like “toggle_ext_lights“) Notice that the Event has a red X in it (It turns green as soons as the corresponding Activate Remote Event gets created). 
4. After setting up the rest of your Kismetsequence (In my case I am using a Toggle with Looping activated to Toggle my light to go on and off with Matinee). Return to your original Kismet Sequence
5. RMB > Action > Event > Activate Remote Event – Make sure that the Event name is identical to the Remote Event name. The node should have a green check on it.

ConsoleEvents

The Console Event is a nice way of creating Testing nodes in your scene (instead of creating a Trigger and connecting it etc.)

In Kismet simply create the node with New Event > Console Event or by Keyboard shortcut E + LMB, and give it a unique name (something like ext_lights)  and connect it to your Kismet sequence.

1. Preview in Game Mode (Press F8)
2. Open the console by pressing the Key ^ (next to the No1 – key)
3. Enter the command “CauseEvent ext_lights”

Notes

The Kismet Sequence can be embedded in a Prefab object.

To quickly create a Remote Event and the Activate Remote Event Node press LMB-Shift-R.