OVERVIEW
A procedural rope bridge tool created in Houdini,
designed to generate customizable bridge variations through artist-controlled parameters.
designed to generate customizable bridge variations through artist-controlled parameters.
01 Plank Generation
The bridge deck is procedurally generated from individual planks, allowing the overall
dimensions and shape of the bridge to be adjusted while maintaining consistent plank placement.
dimensions and shape of the bridge to be adjusted while maintaining consistent plank placement.
Procedural Plank Distribution
The input curve is resampled to establish the bridge path,
then used to generate and orient placement points along the curve.
Individual wooden planks are copied onto these points,
with randomized scale variation added to break up repetition
and create a more natural result.
then used to generate and orient placement points along the curve.
Individual wooden planks are copied onto these points,
with randomized scale variation added to break up repetition
and create a more natural result.
02 Rope System
The rope system is procedurally constructed around the bridge,
combining the main supporting ropes with connecting ropes between them.
combining the main supporting ropes with connecting ropes between them.
1) Main Ropes
The main ropes are generated along the bridge path
and resampled to create evenly distributed points.
Circular profiles are copied along the rope and swept along
the curve to generate the final rope geometry.
and resampled to create evenly distributed points.
Circular profiles are copied along the rope and swept along
the curve to generate the final rope geometry.
2) Connecting Ropes
Connecting ropes are generated between
the main ropes using resampled points along the bridge.
The resulting curves are swept with circular profiles
to create the final connecting rope geometry.
the main ropes using resampled points along the bridge.
The resulting curves are swept with circular profiles
to create the final connecting rope geometry.
03 HDA Setup
The procedural bridge system was packaged as a Houdini Digital Asset,
exposing key controls so artists can quickly generate and customize bridge variations
without modifying the underlying node network.
exposing key controls so artists can quickly generate and customize bridge variations
without modifying the underlying node network.
Artist-Friendly Controls
Key bridge dimensions and rope properties are
exposed as adjustable parameters,
allowing the bridge proportions and rope appearance
to be modified directly from the HDA interface.
exposed as adjustable parameters,
allowing the bridge proportions and rope appearance
to be modified directly from the HDA interface.
