Masking or Clipping Fields in Vertex Map

[MaverickMongoose]

Hi Dr Sassi,

I've made a growing effect in a vertex map with a Freeze object and a few other effects. But now I want to clip all my layers to within the shape of a Text Spline (The letter A) so the growing effect only appears inside.

I tried setting the Text Spline to CLIP mode and placing it above everything else, but it does not clip.

I then tried grouping all the other layers and using the Text Spline as a Mask, but that didnt work (probably because I set the mask up incorrectly, not sure how its meant to work).

Any idea what I should do?

Here's my file: https://we.tl/t-Ww8OpOA15L

Thanks again!

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi MaverickMongoose,

Thanks for the file and for using Wetransfer.

Please have a look here:
CV_2024_drs_24_FIgr_01.c4d

The Spheres are the "igniters" and need to be in the field that should grow. When they are outside, they are excluded.
I have reduced the file to a few items. When you need the other parts, please tell me what they need to do. Thank you.

All the best

[MaverickMongoose]

Cheers, but Im not sure this setup is exactly what I need.

I need the spheres emitting the growth to emit the exact same pattern but isolate it within the A.

I managed to get it working by using 2 separate vertex maps - when I have just the sphere growth in one vertex map, I can use that as a layer in a second vertex map and mask that easily with CLIP in the second vertex map (link below).

But do you know how I can do this within a single vertex map exactly like that?

https://we.tl/t-OFtACjbnWz

[Dr. Sassi]

Thanks for the file, MaverickMongoose,

A single Vertex Tag with Freeze set to grow and limited to an area that is not the starting point, not to my knowledge that there is a simple solution. At the moment the outside values are set to zero, the Freeze Node would have nothing to go on for the next step in growth; it would start over each frame.

If you mix anything animated with the Random Field or the Shader field, like in your example, you can simulate the growth. This can be an image sequence, an animated Spline, or Fields.

Example

CV_2024_drs_24_FIgr_11.c4d

My best wishes

[MaverickMongoose]

No worries, in that case it's probably easiest to just put one vertex map into another in this case.

Thanks again Dr Sassi!

[MaverickMongoose]

Do you know if its possible to bake or cache fields or convert a vertex to a baked animation?

[Dr. Sassi]

Yes, MaverickMongoose, that would be Alembic.

Please have a look here:
https://stcineversityprod02.blob.core.windows.net/$web/Cineversity_Forum_Support/2024_PROJECTS_DRS/20240224_CV4_2024_drs_24_ANvc_01.zip

Other than that, I'm not aware of any native Vertex Cache.

Cheers

[MaverickMongoose]

Cheers, I tried that too, but it just crashes constantly. Thanks anyway though

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi MaverickMongoose,

It should not crash while creating an Alembic file.

Please check with tech support.
https://www.maxon.net/en/support-center

All the best