MASH Utilities are a set of helpful tools that either function on or are aided by MASH networks. You can access them by going to
in the
Animation or
FX menu sets. Most of them are also available via the MASH shelf.
- Cache MASH network
- Caches MASH network effects using an alembic cache. Functionally the same as using the
option. For more information, see
Caching MASH networks for rendering.
- Create MASH Deformer
- Deforms vertices or faces based on the points in a MASH network. For more information, see
MASH Deformer.
- Create Blend Deformer
- Blends from one version of a mesh to another version of the same mesh. However, unlike a regular
Blend Deformer, this blend can interact with MASH falloff objects, maps, etc. For more information, see
MASH Blend Deformer.
- Create Jiggle Deformer
- Causes points on a mesh to shake as they move. However, unlike a regular
Jiggle Deformer, this jiggle can interact with other MASH falloff objects, maps, etc. For more information, see
MASH Jiggle Deformer.
- Create Mesh from Points
- Creates a new mesh by joining the points of the currently selected MASH node into tris. This is useful for setting up a vertex distribution, if you want to distribute objects into the volume of a skinned character.
- Connect MASH to Type
- Connects characters in the selected Type mesh to points in the selected MASH network. For more information, see
Create polygon text.
Note: For the most accurate results, set the Type mesh's
Kerning Scale to 0.
- Connect nParticles to MASH
- Uses the selected nParticle system to drive the current MASH network's distribution. Using this automatically sets the
Distribute node's
Distribution Type to
inPositionPP.
- Set up nParticles with an initial state from MASH
- Creates a new nParticle system and places one particle at each MASH point.
- Add Trails to Particles
- Adds MASH
Trails to the selected nParticles without creating a
Waiter node.
- Switch MASH Geometry Type
- Changes the selected MASH network's instances to repro nodes or vice versa.
- Bake Instancer to objects
- Allows you to bake MASH instances to actual objects (including animation). For more information, see
Bake Instancer Tool.
- Create Instancer Pivot
- Creates a new locator that acts as the pivot for all the instances.
Add Utility
- Breakout
- Allows you to drive animatable attributes on objects in your scene using MASH networks.
- Explode
- Extracts a mesh's faces and transforms them according to existing MASH points.
- Points
- Displays various types of information per MASH point.
- Trails
- Creates a trail of quads behind or between points.