Geometry nodes: non-random distribute?

General Forums Blender Development Discussion
1

Hi folks,

Just messing around with geometry nodes for the first time.

A question:

Is it possible to distribute an object in some non random way?

Say for example you have a grid and you want to distribute another object (say, little spheres) in a regular pattern, for example at each vertex of the grid.

Is there some way to do that?

I think you can do that with a particle system, but i want to make use of the exciting possibilities of geometry nodes.

Thanks!

2

Use the node setup you would normally use, just without the Point Distribute

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3

Use the internal mesh nodes.

4

When you create a node tree, initial geometry info has the points as the vertices of the original mesh. In the grid case, you can use those vertices right from the geometry input node.

5

Use vertex groups, and “point separate” node and the VG as mask, the “geometry 2” output gives you the points of the VG.

Here is a node group you can use:

image
image1351Ă—523 129 KB

It also allows you to put a random amount of items.
-Geometry is the original object geometry with vertex groups
-vertex_group is, obviously, the vertex group where you want your objects
-seed is the random seed
-random_cut is a range of 0 to 1 for the randomness, if you leave it at 0 it will use all the vertices

The output gives you the points to instance your object:

image
image1214Ă—820 90.3 KB

this is a grid with a vertex group called “smile”

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6

Great, thanks, will give this a try!

1 Like
7

In 2.93 there is a node, Attribute Sample Texture, which apparently allows you to sample the texture at that point on the mesh. Don’t quote me. :upside_down_face:

8

Sorry couldn’t resist…lol

Sounds real cool.

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9

Blender Guru uses it in his “gumdrop” tute: I’m not EXACTLY sure how the texture corresponds to the geometry, but it’s a good place to start.

10

Thank you for this answer it solved a problem I was having with another project.

1 Like