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Arnold Mandelbulb Procedural from Documentation - Arnold 5 version not working

7 REPLIES 7
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Message 1 of 8
Anonymous
1424 Views, 7 Replies

Arnold Mandelbulb Procedural from Documentation - Arnold 5 version not working

Hello. I am experimenting with Mandelbulb fractals in Arnold for Maya based on some examples from the Arnold documentation. When using the C++ source code and the provided DLL from the Arnold 4 documentation found here (see Source Code section):

https://support.solidangle.com/display/ARP/Large+Datasets+from+Procedurals

everything behaves as expected when working with Arnold 4. Changing the different parameters has the desired response.

However, when using the more up-to-date Mandelbulb.cpp source code and it's corresponding DLL from the new Arnold 5 documentation here:

https://support.solidangle.com/display/A5ARP/Large+Datasets+from+Procedurals2

I have found that both the "power" attribute and the "julia" attribute do not work properly in Arnold 5. The "power" attribute, especially, seems to have a subtle scaling effect on the generated fractal when it should instead have a very drastic effect on the overall form of the Mandelbulb.

I have used this tool - https://text-compare.com/1 - in order to compare the two source code versions, but the math/procedure for generating the Mandelbulb appears to be the same in each. The only major change to the math I noticed was that the Arnold 4 version utilized a kind of optimized method of achieving some inverse square math based on some code from Quake3, but I created my own DLL from the Arnold 5 C++ code replacing it's regular "1/sqrt(x)" math with the Arnold 4 method and the issue still remained.

I am still learning the new changes to the Arnold 5 C++ API, and haven't yet found any obvious reason why the new source code does not behave as expected. I'd be grateful for some help in solving this issue.

Below is an image illustrating the issue. The setup is almost identical, with the following values for the Mandelbulb procedural attributes:

grid_size 300, max_iterations 9, sphere_scale 1, orbit_threshold 0.05, chunks 25, threads 50, julia_C (-0.161224, 1.04, 0.183673)

Arnold 4 (mtoa 1.2.7.2) in Maya 2015

Arnold 5 (mtoa 2.0.1) in Maya 2017

This issue also effects this page from the documentation:

https://support.solidangle.com/display/A5AFMUG/How+to+Render+a+Mandelbulb

Thank you very much for reading this long post and taking the time to help.

298-mandelbulb-comparisonsheet.jpg

Labels (3)
7 REPLIES 7
Message 2 of 8
ashley.handscomb.retallack
in reply to: Anonymous

Hey, I think there are some big differences in the code. I can also tell you that there is an example mandelbulb proc in HtoA for Arnold 5 that works. So getting these changes in the docs might be a good solution. I'll see what can be done.



Ashley Handscomb Retallack
Arnold Support Specialist
Arnold Documentation | Arnold Downloads
Message 3 of 8
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Thank you very much for your reply, @Ashley Handscomb Retallack . It would be very helpful to have a working Arnold 5 version of this procedural in the MtoA docs so that I can compare it to the Arnold 4 version and the non-working Arnold 5 version that is currently posted. If you could keep me informed about that update I'd appreciate it.

I took a look at the Houdini version you mentioned, and noticed that the .ass that references this HtoA version of the procedural uses the Arnold 4 style

procedural {

name

dso

parameters

}

format, instead of calling to the procedural directly by it's unique name as shown in the Arnold 5 resources:

Mandelbulb {

parameters

}

Does the HtoA procedural use the same C++ source code found in the "Large Datasets from Procedurals" document page?

Finally, on a somewhat related note, is it possible to load a dso (so, dll) directly into an Arnold Stand-In in Maya instead of an .ass that references the dso? I would like to be able to add the procedural's parameters to the Stand-In node in order to be able to animate the values directly within Maya instead of having to use Python to create an .ass file for each frame as demonstrated here:

http://www.vivekc.com/animating-mandle-bulb-inside-maya-using-arnold/

Thank you, again, for taking the time and energy to help me with this issue. I'm very grateful, and excited to learn more about what is going on here. Cheers!

Message 4 of 8
ashley.handscomb.retallack
in reply to: Anonymous

Hi @Chancepayne Chancepayne I have updated the code on the https://support.solidangle.com/display/A5ARP/Large+Datasets+from+Procedurals2 page.

I have also uploaded new versions of the procedural to the https://support.solidangle.com/display/A5AFMUG/How+to+Render+a+Mandelbulb page

cheers



Ashley Handscomb Retallack
Arnold Support Specialist
Arnold Documentation | Arnold Downloads
Message 6 of 8
lee_griggs
in reply to: Anonymous

The files have been updated on the tutorial page.

Lee Griggs
Arnold rendering specialist
AUTODESK
Message 7 of 8
theandytai
in reply to: Anonymous

Hey @Ashley Handscomb Retallack,

I've been trying to get this to render but I doesn't seem to be working. The Arnold 4 version works perfectly, Arnold 5 doesn't even try to produce the mandelbulb. I'm using Maya 2018 MtoA 3.1.1.1 Arnold Core 5.2.1.0

Thanks!

Message 8 of 8

@Andy Tai do you mean the complied versions on the tutorial page or the code doesn't work for you?



Ashley Handscomb Retallack
Arnold Support Specialist
Arnold Documentation | Arnold Downloads

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