Due to its popularity and support, the Shape Generator has evolved into an extensive tool that features customizable presets, random transformation, automatic UV mapping, and even animation.
Generate ideas and abstract concepts for inspiration which can then be edited or sculpted.
Create base meshes for further editing such as spaceships, game assets, and objects I haven’t even thought of.
Create shapes for background assets or to add peripheral details.
When combined with our Plating Generator addon you can quickly create detailed models which can then be further refined.
It can also be used to create libraries of curated objects which can then be used in kit-bash fashion or sold by others.
Version 1.7.8 – Integrated Panel, Design Theory, Baking, and an Iterator
The latest Shape Generator comes with a host of new updates, described in the set of videos below.
Integrated Panel lets you revisit your shape
In previous versions, parameters could only be changed at creation time and once the panel disappeared those changes were committed.
Now you can revisit and change your parameters by clicking on the object and going to the new integrated “Shape Generator” tab:
1. Apply Big/Medium/Small Design Theory with custom controls:
This update has been heavily influenced after talking with Marco Iozzi who has worked on productions like Harry Potter, Elysium, and Game of Thrones, and is currently doing concept art & design for Thor: Love and Thunder.
Marco highlighted the topic of Design Theory by Sinix Design, the theory that the majority of good designs can be broken down into one large main shape; a medium shape or shapes taking up a smaller amount of the design; and some smaller shapes taking up an even smaller area.
The Shape Generator now has a dedicated section for creating Big/Medium/Small sub-objects that can make up the main shape.
2. Iterate Potential Designs with the Iterator
To see lots of designs at once so that you can select one or two to take forward, we can now use something called an Iterator in the Shape Generator.
The Iterator will use the camera in your scene to automatically render a range of Shape Generator combinations to a directory of your choosing.
3. Bake objects ready for editing or sculpting
The generated shape is made up of lots of different collections of objects. The ‘Bake Shape’ operation will collapse all the objects into one overall object, applying any modifiers that were being used, and remove the Shape Generator parameters.
This is useful for further applying edits to the model, or using the Remesh Modifier to sculpt the object further.
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