It's been a LONG time since I've posted a problem in the Renderosity forums (fora?), but this has me baffled. After looking at the promotional videos for VWD, I decided to download the program demo and the instructional videos from Biscuits. (Thank you, both!) I've used Poser's cloth room since it first appeared in the program, but hair is another matter. Intrigued, I've taken the plunge into VWD.

The process of setting up a figure as a collision object and then selecting hair seems quite straightforward. However, there are no presets in the demo version (unless I've put them in the wrong place, which is entirely possible), and I get the following error when I try to import the hair:

Would one of you be kind enough to point me in the correct direction? Thank you!

There is a limit in VWD about the number of springs generated to keep VWD responding. That's the error

There are many solutions to prevent this: if you are using DS4: is there a subdivision level ?, in VWD there are many options to reduce the number of vertices go in the manual (not in front of my computer), use Decimator (last solution for me)

My advice would be to start testing VWD with basic simple clothes, then more complex clothes, hair, animation,....

I'm using Poser Pro 11. It seems REALLY odd to get a memory error, as I have 16 GB of RAM on this machine and I can even build complex scenes in VUE without trouble.

It's not linked to the memory you have but to the calculations required to make the simulation. I assure you that with right parameter values in VWD it's not a problem and I simulated all kind of clothes and hair I wanted. Fluidity of the simulation is essential when you do manual adjustments or for an animation.

In the manual: " Distance min. is there to reduce the actual springs it will generate by skipping those below that distance. " Tick and try with default value, if it still don't works try with 0.9.

Okay, so I got past that point. (Thank you!) But now, after setting the dynamic parameters, I'm not getting the VALIDATE button, like Biscuits does in the video.

Ah, I found the problem. After going step by step, line by line through the manual, I discovered why I couldn't find the presets . . . Once I'd set up the preset for V4 and set the springs, it began simulating.

Finally!

Because I'm using the demo version right now I can't export to Poser and render. It's clear that I need to figure out how to get the hair out of my character's face, but at least I got the demo to simulate.

Thank you for your help!

:)

Glad you had success. For sure, as you can't get back to Poser for render, it's more difficult to see the result for hair (plenty of transparencies) . That's also why it's better to try with clothes . My first hair simulation came some monthes after I bought VWD.

I still read the manual periodically, each time I learn something.

Hello anupaum,

The demo version works exactly as the full version. The only difference is that you cannot save the computation in the demo version.

Hair simulation is difficult to do. Personnaly, I progress everyday by finding new methods. My last tests are in this video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n654lL1MNFw This solution will certainly give good results for the hair you currently use.

About the program, There are no presets for now, that's true. But, please, remember that VWD can simulate all kind of clothes. Dynamic clothes are always single meshes with homogeneous mesh elements. Conforming clothes can be made using all the methods existing for the mesh creation and they are many, with good and bad results. Perhaps, later I will find a method the know the behaviour of a cloth whatever it is made, but I'm not sure to manage this.

VWD gives you many functions to create your simulations, but it cannot help you to understand the methods to use for a specific project. You have to think in term of physics with the constraint of the meshes you currently use. In 35 years of research in Physics, I never found a software that allows you to make a simulation with two clicks. Please, be patient and I am sure you will create fantastic simulations.

I know I have to create new tutorials. My native language is French and my english speaking is not good. My first tutorials, in French, was not very usefull, but they were easy to do to me. I want to make some English tutorials with my horrible accent, but I think they will be more useful to the users.

I hope you will have the same pleasure as me to use VWD.

Have a great day.

  Gérald

Thank you, Gerald!

I'm not expecting excellent results right away. As with all software, VWD has a learning curve and I have to adapt the way I'm thinking to the way the software works. That's to be expected.

Your English is fine. (It's not my native language, either.) Both of my sons speak French fluently and are interested in 3D animation, so when they come to visit they can translate anything of a technical nature that I need to understand. You've done a LOT of work on this and I'm confident that I will soon develop sufficient skill with VWD.

:)

Hello,

I am sure you will do great simulations very soon.

VWD lacks tutorials. I wanted to improve a bit my english before to make some tutorials. My English is far to be perfect but I think I am now able to do useful tutorials.

About the memory issue, the problem comes really from the memory because I use a 32 bits library. I want to improve this part of the program because this library also forbids me to compile the program for Mac computers.

In fact, this memory issue is no so important because when the program crashes with this error, more than 30 millions springs have been created and the simulation becomes to be very slow. I began to work on GPU computing, using OpenCL, that will accelerate the simulation speed with an impressive way. When the GPU version will be fully fonctionnal, perhaps it will possible to work with 100 millions springs. Or more :-)

Feel free to open another thread in the forum if you have any question which can be interesting to other VWD users.

Have a great day.

  Gérald

Thank you! Bless you!

After following your video tutorial, this is what I came up with. VWD is very unforgiving of my errors. I had to try this several times before I could make it work. I think it might be helpful to write the steps out, one at a time.

However, I think this is pretty remarkable success for only a few hours of effort. :)

Thank you for your help!!

VWD Second Attempt.jpg

anupaum:

The first one would work well for a shower scene. The second one appears to be closer to what you probably wanted, and it looks great.

You will find it will get easier the more you play with it, and you are not limited to just following one way to accomplish your goal. Now, you should attempt it again, but this time when you get to the second image level start to play inside VWD using the Simulation Parameters (Inertia - moves mesh faster/slower_keeps in motion/slows motion, Gravity - lesser gravity to negative gravity to float hair upwards/no gravity to manipulate hair easily), Dynamic Deformation (hold SHIFT and pull/push hair strands where you want them), fixing/releasing (locking/unlocking) hair strands/sections for manipulation or no manipulation allowed, and Wind to blow hair naturally in multiple directions.

Setup also plays an important role in your outcome. If you only use By Neighborhood for initial springs setup you will get hair strand clumping (good for some sections of hair, or certain styles), but if you start with By Extension for initial springs you can have separate hair strands and you can add in By Neighborhood for clumping sections. Also, pre-setup of hair strands for By Material selection (each strand it's own material zone) can be beneficial as well as utilizing the selection tools inside VWD to manipulate individual strands.

You're off to a good start. Happy simulating...

I've condensed the instructional video into steps for a static simulation, if anyone is interested.

After experiencing success with the demo, I bought the script. This is the scene I'd been working on. Enjoy!

@DaremoK3 : I commit you as a commercial for VWD. You are right, more you play with the program, more you feel the limits going off.

@anupaum : Congratulations for your render. For me, the hair simulation is the domain I prefer. Thank you for the text explaining the hair simulation from the video. If you accept, perhaps this text could be introduced into the VWD Documentation, written by WimVDB. I can ask him to add it into his document.

That would be helpful to others, I believe. Feel free to use the text. (It's merely a compilation of what you'd explained in your video.)

Hair simulation is what attracted me to the script. I use Poser's cloth room frequently, even for animations of conforming clothes, as you can see in this video:

Ceremonies and Celebrations

The revised manual is better than the one included with the demo, as it's much easier to understand. You've done an outstanding job on the script and I'm pleased that others are helping you promote your product.

Beautiful render, anupaum. The hair looks natural, and realistic. I love the pose, and composition.

Great breakdown of the video tutorial. It will be very beneficial to the users.

Also, great job on your promotional video. Now, just think about your next one, and how VWD will help you to achieve natural flowing hair added to it. It will look even more tantalizing.

Welcome to the wonderful world of VWD cloth and hair simulations. Can't wait to see what you produce next. Also, don't forget about the VWD Gallery here at Rendo. That is a great image to add to showcase how great hair can look with the use of VWD.

That's kindly of you to write.

:)

I've hesitated to do any additional promos because they take a LONG time to create and don't actually generate interest in my books. The video you watched took three months to create . . .

I'm finding Poser's cloth room easier for clothing right now, probably because I'm so familiar with the workflow, but doing hair this way is highly motivating. I'll see if I can post the image in the VWD Gallery. I've not posted any images at Rendo in a long time . . .

It is good for cloth, but VWD adds tons of realism to hair. @anupaum good job

Thank you!

I tried my first animation last night. I think I need to add frames at the beginning so the hair "settles" before I animate the hair. It was pretty wild!