6 replies to this topic

[hexameta]

First off I'd like to thank Ruimac for creating the Xpresso for the initial plasma line setup. In short I need a way to make the plasma line arc up over the sphere from which it originates from. The problem is much better illustrated via playback of the attached so if interested then please see attached. At present the setup basically creates a straight line (more or less) between two nulls. I need that line to not be straight but to arc up over the shape of the sphere. As always any information or suggestions are very much appreciated and thanks for viewing!

[deepshade]

I open the scene a push play - but dont see anything

[hexameta]

Hey Deepshade thnx for reading. Do this: In the object manager click on the item entitled: Electrode4 P-Lines.1 and the press the "S" key on your keyboard.

[deepshade]

It was more that I was trying to illustrate the point  - if you ask for help
don't make it difficult .I did look through the scene but it was a bit of a challenge finding the parts

try the spherical deformer
or just do fo an arc spline and deform it with a displace deformer and some noise

[hexameta]

Yeah tried those approaches but they don't produce the look I am after. I think I basically need a way to control the arc so that it never intersect the sphere between the two moving points. Anyway thnx for the suggestions.

[ruimac]

See if this is helps you somehow.
I will answer your mail tomorrow :-)

Rui Batista

Attached Files

•  Plasma_Ball_MoGraph.mov   284.42K   31 downloads
•  Plasma_Ball.zip   1.29MB   25 downloads

[hexameta]

Hey Rui thnx for the Plasma Ball! As plasma balls go the one you sent is a fine one. I tried adapting your MoSpline setup but it just doesn't have the control I need. Your setup (and practically all the setups I've seen out there for this type of effect) work on the assumption that the lightning/plasma/energy line travels more or less in a straight line. I need the line to travel in a 90 degree arc over a fixed object (in this case a sphere). I need both of the end points to travel randomly on their respective surfaces, which are the sphere and the ground plane the sphere is sitting on (hence the 90 degree arc). And finally the line can never intersect the sphere. I've figured everything out except for how to arc the line while maintaining the before mentioned restrictions.  This one's a head banger!