TDMorph is a toolbox for enhanced parametric exploration in the TouchDesigner platform. It is meant to help in creating generative content via various methods and sharing of interesting parameter configurations among users, using a JSON format.
- Random search of states for parameters on any node, using various different distributions.
- Random morphing between states using various different interpolation curves.
- Storing and retrieval of any arbitrary number of presets.
- Control of parameters with an automatically generated UI.
- Automatic storing, randomization and transformation of all parameters of arbitrary nodes.
- Auto-learn MIDI and OSC for every slider in the generated UI.
- Full scripting control of all UI features via high-level commands.
- Global and local controls for every single parameter.
There are two main approaches you may take:
- You can create a UI from where to control your parameters, using sliders and a set of buttons that perform various functions.
- You can create a Preset Manager node, which does everything the UI does but with a slightly different paradigm.
Great! Here a quick overview of the general controls. I hint here at what the more misterious elements in the UI do, hopefully the rest is self-explanatory. For a proper step by step explanation, refer to the video tutorials below.
Please check the following tutorials to learn all the features in a structured manner:
https://vimeo.com/showcase/6682501
Fair enough :) The philosophy behind the construction of TDMorph is that the UI is "dumb". This means that it is completely decoupled from the core functionality, so when you interact with it you are invoking lower level commands that do not know what a button or a slider is, at least not implicitely. There is therefore a high level set of commands that you can pass to control the UI using Python.
In order to access those, you first need to locate a sliders container and then target a specific element of the UI you want to control, that being a button, a parameter or a slider.
To access a sliders container you need to invoke it by number (counting from 1), so assuming you have only 1 slider container in your TDMorph workspace, you can invoke that element using:
sliderContainer = op('TDMorph').GetContainer(1)Now, you can control all the UI elements of that object. So if you would like to change its morphing time you can do:
sliderContainer.SetUITime(SomeTimeValue)Here all the methods available for a sliders container:
SetUIDistribution(int) # Changes the random distribution
SetUIInterpolation(int) # Changes the moprhing curve
SetUIGlobal(bool) # Enables local/global behaviour
SetUISync(bool) # Enables local/global clock syncing
SetUIAuto(bool) # Enables automatic behaviour
SetUIMorphs(int) # Sets the amount of morphings
SetUITime(float) # Sets the morphing time
ClickUISequence() # Clicks the preset sequence button
SetUISequence(bool) # Sets the preset sequence button on/off
ClickUIRandomize() # Clicks the randomize button
SetUIRandomize(bool) # Sets the randomize button on/off
ClickUIMorph() # Clicks the morph button
SetUIMorph(bool) # Sets the morph button on/off
ClickUIImport() # Triggers importing a preset
ClickUIExport() # Triggers exporting a preset
ClickUISubPreset() # Substracts one preset slot
ClickUIAddPreset() # Adds one preset slot
SetUINumPresets(int) # Changes the number of preset slots
ClickUIClearPresets() # Clears all presets
SetUISetPreset(int) # Sets preset n
SetUIStorePreset(int) # Stores a preset in n slot
SetUIUnstorePreset(int) # Removes a preset from n slot
GetSlider(int) # Returns a slider from the containerThe last method in the list returns the targeted slider. Like with the container, you may get a slider by asking for a slider number. Assuming you have only 1 slider in your container, you may access it like:
slider1 = sliderContainer.GetSlider(1) Thus, if you would like to change the slider value for instance, you need to do:
slider1.SetUISliderValue(SomeValue)Here all the methods available for sliders:
SetUISliderValue(float) # Sets the value for the slider
ClickUISliderRandomize() # Triggers slider's randomization
ClickUISliderInterpolate() # Triggers slider's morphing
SetUISliderLock(bool) # Sets lock status
SetUISliderReveal(bool) # Enables deep parameters reveal
ClickUISliderDestroy() # Destroys slider
SetUISliderDistribution(int) # Sets random distribution
SetUISliderInterpolation(int) # Sets morphing curve
SetUISliderTime(float) # Sets morphing timeIt is fair to assume that If you have the need to access lower level methods, you are proficient enough to figure out for yourself the inner structure of the Classes. A node in TDMorph in general has always 2 extensions:
- Core extension (Core UI-less functionality)
- UI extension (deals exclusively with operations with UI elements)
Feel free to look around and please suggest improvements if you see something that could be done better in the code, or if I did some stupid thing somewhere (which is bound to be the case). To report these , please use the issue tracker in the Github repo:
https://github.com/DarienBrito/TDMorph/issues
The motivation to share this tool stems from the wonderful sense of comradery that the TouchDesigner community in general has, and by the brilliant philosophy of Derivative https://derivative.ca/, as creators of the TouchDesigner software. I hope that the ethos that characterizes TD continues, and that this small contribution helps you in expanding your capabilities as a maker.
Since we are artists/programmers and not lawyers, I trust you will give credit where credit is due and respect the licence: GNU General Public License v3 (GPL-3). This means that if at some point you would like to use this tool in a commercial endeavour for which you do not want to disclose the source code, you will get in touch first, so a fair arrangement can be made.
Enjoy!
Darien Brito https://darienbrito.com/