Random baking into different layers?

So I have a definition that produces a 27000 'houses' that I want to render. But I'd like to have a lot of different colors of houses, so I'm wanting to have each assigned to a random layer (idk, up to 15 layers maximum?) but I'm not sure exactly how to do this. I tried the below definition, but in the end all the layers were created but the geometry was only assigned to the last one. so it defeated the purpose.

Let me know if you know the solution!

Thanks.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by djordje on December 17, 2014 at 9:48pm

Hi ,

This could be done with FabTools or Human plugin with a bit of data managing, but here is a custom solution.

You have three ways of layer-material generation:

- supply the customColors_ you want. Each customColor corresponts to layer color and material (diffuse) color. If you supply less customColors than houses, then some houses would be put in common layers. Supply more customColors than what the houses you have - and you will end up with some layers being empty

- do not supply customColors_ but supply NoLayers_ instead. This will create a number of layers which correspond to the to NoLayers_. If you have more houses than NoLayers_, then some of them would be put in the common layer, with the common material color. If you have less houses than NoLayers_ you will have empty layers.
Layer and material colors are generated randomly

- do not supply neither customColors_ nor NoLayers_. All houses would be put in a single layer, each house will have a separate material color, generated randomly.

The definition requires ghpython plugin to be installed.

Attachments:

houses_in_a_tube.gh, 26 KB

Permalink Reply by Eric Lawler on December 17, 2014 at 11:21pm

Thank you very much djordje! It worked as I was hoping. Im sure learning how to write script would help me out. as you know, have the ability to work beyond the limitations of the program. Very cool. I had a second question, do you think it's possible to sort layer colors by something, like house volume, for example? So that all large houses would be pink, medium green, small yellow, etc. This isn't needed right now, I was just curious if it was possible.