Awesome

Sorcar

Procedural modeling in Blender using Node Editor

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BlenderArtist Thread: https://blenderartists.org/t/sorcar-procedural-modeling-in-blender-using-node-editor/1156769 Intro & Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZiIC3gdS_O7nCm1-xpWbZmTQWeL5c6KV Trello (Project Tracker): https://trello.com/b/aKIFRoTh/sorcar Documentation: https://github.com/aachman98/Sorcar/wiki

About

Sorcar is a procedural modeling node-based system which utilises Blender and its Python API to create a visual programming environment for artists and developers. Heavily inspired by Side-FX Houdini, it presents a node editor with a variety of modular nodes to make the modelling workflow easier and fast. Most of the nodes are blender internal operations (bpy.ops.mesh/object) which also makes it easier for frequent blender users to manipulate geometry. It helps the users to quickly create 3D models and control node parameters to generate limitless variations in a non-destructive manner. It also provides the users to view and edit mesh on any stage of the node network independently, with realtime updates.

Release & Instructions

Latest Release (v3.2.1) Requirement: Blender 2.81 or later

Download the zip file and install it as a Blender addon (Edit -> Preferences... -> Add-ons -> Install...)
Open Sorcar Node Editor (Do not remove the 3D viewport as it is required by some operations like extrude, transform, ...)
Click on the + button to create a new tree
Press Shift+A to open the nodes menu. Alternatively, navigate through tabs on the Right panel in the node editor
Select the desired node and press "Set Preview"

Open blender using a command prompt to view logs and errors, if encountered.

Features


	<p style="text-align: left; padding-left: 16px;"><strong>VISUAL PROGRAMMING</strong><br /><em>Don't like programming?</em></p> <hr style="padding-left: 16px;" /> <p style="text-align: left; padding-left: 16px;">Construct geometries using custom algorithms, maths or generate patterns without writing a single line of code!</p>
<p style="text-align: right; padding-right: 16px;"><strong>NON-DESTRUCTIVE WORKFLOW</strong><br /><em>Want to change cylinder vertices after bevel?</em></p> <hr style="padding-right: 16px;" /> <p style="text-align: right; padding-right: 16px;">Edit node parameters at any point without the fear of losing mesh data. Also apply same procedural operations to different objects easily.</p>
	<p style="text-align: left; padding-left: 16px;"><strong>REAL-TIME UPDATES</strong><br /><em>Quick as the wind...</em></p> <hr style="padding-left: 16px;" /> <p style="text-align: left; padding-left: 16px;">Drive a parameter using current frame value (or manually change it) and see the mesh update in viewport.</p>
<p style="text-align: right; padding-right: 16px;"><strong>ITERATE & RANDOMIZE</strong><br /><em>Need multiple extrusions of random amount?</em></p> <hr style="padding-right: 16px;" /> <p style="text-align: right; padding-right: 16px;">Generate variations in mesh by using seed-controlled pseudorandom numbers. Use loops to handle repeatitive operations with same level of randomness.</p>
	<p style="text-align: left; padding-left: 16px;"><strong>AUTOMATION</strong><br /><em>Modify, Save, Repeat...</em></p> <hr style="padding-left: 16px;" /> <p style="text-align: left; padding-left: 16px;">Use frame number to drive seed value and batch export the meshes in different files.</p>
<p style="text-align: right; padding-right: 16px;"><strong>250+ NODES</strong><br /><em>At your service!</em></p> <hr style="padding-right: 16px;" /> <p style="text-align: right; padding-right: 16px;">A growing list of functions available as nodes (operators & scene settings) including custom inputs, curve/mesh conversion, selection & transform tools, modifiers and component level operators.</p>

Node-Groups to collapse big node networks into a single node with custom inputs & outputs
Simplified node sockets with internal data conversion for the convenience of users.
Colour-coded nodes (preview, error, invalid inputs etc.) for easier debugging.
Multi-level heirarchy & auto-registration of classes for easy development of custom nodes in any category (existing or new).

and more...!

Nodes


	Inputs </br> Primitive Meshes (Cube, Cylinder, Sphere, ...), Empty Object, Import FBX, Custom Object from the scene, Create Object using arrays of Vertices, Edges & Faces
	Curves </br> Custom Curve from the scene, Text, Import SVG, Geometry/Shape/Spline Properties, Mesh-Curve or Curve-Mesh Conversion

	Transform </br> Set/Add/Randomize transform (Edit/Object mode), Apply/Copy transform in world/local axes, Create custom orientation
	Selection </br> Manual, invert/toggle, loops, random, similar components or by their property (location, index, normal, material, ...)
	Deletion </br> Delete/Dissolve selected components (or loops)

	Component Operators </br> Bevel, Decimate, Extrude, Fill, Inset, Loop Cut, Merge, Offset Loop, Poke, Screw, Spin, Subdivide, UV Map, Assign material or vertex groups
	Object Operators </br> Duplicate, Raycast/Overlap, Merge, Scatter, Set/Clear Parent, Voxel/QuadriFlow Remesh, Shading, Viewport Draw Mode
	Modifiers </br> Array, Bevel, Boolean, Build, Cast, Curve, Decimate, Remesh, Shrinkwrap, Skin, Solidify, Subsurf, Wave, Weighted Normal, Wireframe

	Constants </br> Number (Float/Int/Angle/Random), Bool, Vector, String, Selection Type (Face/Vert/Edge)
	Arrays </br> Create/Append Arrays, Add/Remove elements, Reverse, Search, Clear, Count, Get

	Noise </br> Cell (Vector/Float), Fractal, Multi-Fractal, Hetero-Terrain, Ridged, Turbulence (Vector/Float), Variable Lacunarity, Voronoi

	Utilities </br> String/Bool/Vector ops, Maths, Clamp, Map, Trigonometry, Get/Set Variables, Node-Groups, Scene/Component/Object Info, Custom Python Script
	Flow Control </br> For loop, For-Each loop (Array/Components), If-Else Branch
	Settings </br> Cursor Transform, Edit Mode, Pivot Point, Snapping, Proportional Editing, Transform Orientation

Upcoming Feature

Export nodes as python code
Send to UE4/Unity (live-link)
Point scatter & voronoi fracture nodes
Debugging tools: Watch/track values of node parameters

Future

Complete integration with Blender's internal dependency graph
Node-Viewport link: Create nodes automatically in editor based on actions in 3D viewport
Landscape (noise/masking/erosion) and Foliage (grass/bush/trees) nodes

Showcase

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Changelog

v3.2.1

Added support for object registration & unregistration on each evaluation (handled by nodetree instead of individual nodes)
Added custom variables in "Custom Python Script" node: _C (bpy context), _D (bpy data), _O (bpy ops), _S (context scene), _N (self node), _NT (self nodetree), _VAR (nodetree variables), _IN (input socket data)
Added "Select by Index Array" selection node
Added "Default" input socket in "Get Variable" node to set value if variable not initialised
Added "Hide Original" bool input prop in "Scatter" node
Added "Clear Variables" nodetree property in "Properties" UI panel to clear data on re-evaluation
Added "Clear Preview" operator (shortcut: Alt+E) to clear current preview node
Added "Execute Node" & "Clear Preview" ops to "Utilities" UI panel
Improved "Send to Sverchok" node to include selection mask with mesh data sent
Improved "Receive from Sverchok" node to set selection mask to mesh data received
Improved "Get/Set Variable" nodes to initialise empty variable in nodetree before accessing property
Improved "Execute Node" operator: removed redundant tree type check
Improved "apply_all_modifiers" & "remove_object" helper methods
Fixed "Separate" node: object array output instead of single object
Fixed socket interface classes for node-groups
Fixed "Select Vertices by Connection": switch to vertex mode before selection
Renamed "Merge" & "Delete" nodes: added "Component" suffix
Renamed "Cursor" node to "Cursor Transform"
Renamed "File" input socket to "Directory" in "Export FBX" node

v3.2.0

Added "Node Group" utility node
Added "Group Nodes" and "Edit Group" operators to create/modify node groups
Added new keymaps for creating and editing node groups (Ctrl+G, Tab)
Added UI panel base class and 3 new panels: "Properties", "Utilities" and "Node Groups"
Added "Send to Sverchok" utility node to pass mesh data (verts/edges/faces) to Sverchok node (Requires "Receive From Sorcar" node in Sverchok nodetree; awaiting PR #3281)
Added "Receive from Sverchok" input node to fetch mesh data (verts/edges/faces) from Sverchok node (Requires "Send To Sorcar" node in Sverchok nodetree; W.I.P.)
Added "Text Block" constant node to output multi-line string from Text Editor
Added node interface base class and sub-classes for all sockets to support node-groups (with custom properties)
Added Wiki and Bug Reporter links in add-ons manager (#127)
Improved object input nodes to clean up geometry when removed
Improved socket base class to show error icon when execution fails
Improved "Custom Object" input node: inherit from input base class, apply all modifiers before execution
Improved Import/Export nodes to select directory path using file picker UI
Improved "Material Parameter" node to show all available nodes & sockets as a drop-down (search)
Improved "Scene Info" node: added new outputs for world unit scale length, active/selected/all objects from the scene; removed "Realtime" tree property
Improved "Duplicate Object" node: added "Linked" input socket
Improved "get_override" and "sc_poll_op" helper methods
Improved all operators: show tooltips, new category (prefix)
Improved all socket base classes to support node-groups
Fixed socket base class to avoid executing node-group input nodes
Fixed "Dissolve" node
Fixed nodetree execution
Fixed "Array" socket label (length of the evaluated array)
Fixed "Instancing" node

v3.1.6

Added "Set Dimensions" & "Set Object Name" object operator nodes
Added "Add ..." input nodes to append primitive object geometry to current object
Added "set_preview" method in nodetree class
Added curve ops base class & "Curve Shape/Geometry/Spline Properties" nodes
Improved "Object Info" node to output object's name, dimensions and bounding box vertices
Improved "Component Info" node to output face area
Renamed input nodes to "Create ..." (added prefix)
Renamed "update_ext" nodetree method to "set_value"
Fixed "remove_object" helper function
Fixed vertex group selection & component operator nodes
Fixed "get_override" helper method to search for correct window/area/region

v3.1.5

Added keymap support to quickly execute selected node (Key: 'E')
Added new "Curve" category & socket to handle objects with curve data
Added method for modifying node parameter externally (automatically re-evaluates nodetree)
Added "Import SVG" & "Text" curve input nodes
Added "Convert to Mesh" & "Convert to Curve" nodes
Added "Create Object" input node
Added "QuadriFlow Remesh" object operator node
Added "Warp" & "Randomize Vertices" transform nodes
Added Weld, Lattice, Shrinkwrap & Weighted Normal modifier nodes
Added "Proportional Editing" & "Snap" settings node
Added "Clear Parent", "Get Parent", & "Get Children" object operator nodes
Improved "Scatter" node to support instanced scattering
Improved "Maths Operation" node to include more operations & better menu layout
Improved "Parent" node to include option to set the inverse parent correction
Improved "Skin Modifier" node to allow skin resize for selected vertices
Renamed transform nodes to "World/Local Transform"
Fixed issue with Crease, Edge-Slide, Skin-Resize local transform
Fixed custom object/curve nodes to hide original object
Fixed issue with rerouting socket connections
Fixed transform nodes to use snapping & proportional editing settings
Fixed object deletion helper method to remove orphaned data
Fixed "Select Nth" node parameter minimum value

v3.1.4

Added "Voxel Remesh" object operator node
Added "Raycast (Scene)" utility node (renamed "Raycast" to "Raycast (Object)")
Added "Instancing" & "Parent" object operator nodes
Added "Empty" and "Single Vertex" input nodes
Added "Hide/Unhide Component" and "Mark Component" nodes
Fixed "Element" output pin type of "Begin For-Each Loop" node
Fixed issue with addon activation
Fixed int conversion in "Shortest Path" selection nodes

v3.1.3

Added "For-Each Component Loop" nodes
Added "Get/Set Variable" nodes
Added "To Sphere" transform node
Added "Select Vertices by Connections" selection node
Fixed issue with reset() attribute
Improved "For" & "For-Each" loop nodes
Improved "Select Manually" node

v3.1.2

Added noise nodes (cell, fractal, voronoi, ...) in a new category "Noise"
Added array operation nodes (add, remove, search, ...) in a new category "Arrays"
Added "Material Parameter" node
Renamed "Edit Mode" node to "Set Selection Mode"
Moved "Get Element" & "Make Array" node to "Arrays" category
Added selection type input socket in "Set Selection Mode" node
Added custom overridable method for socket layout drawing
Removed redundant sorcar_updater folder (also added in gitignore)

v3.1.1

Added addon updator by CGCookie
Fixed issue with realtime update checkbox in "Scene Info" node
New socket type: Selection Type
Ability to change selection type directly though selection nodes
Added issue templates for bug report & feature request

v3.1.0

Support for Blender 2.8
New architecture for data flow node executions
Improved socket types and node hierarchy
Internal data conversions

Contributors

@tomoaki-e33 (Tomoaki Nakano) - Active Developer (#107, #110, #111)
@devilvalley (袁腾鹏) - Bug fix in "Select Nth" selection node (#106)
@CORPSE-SYS - Active Developer (#83, #96)
@zebus3d - Active Developer (#88, #90, #104)
@CGCookie (CG Cookie) - Addon updater (Github)
@8176135 - Individual edit mode type in selection nodes using a new socket (#80)
@BrentARitchie - Documentation Maintainer
@huiyao8761380 (TangHui) - Documentation Maintainer
@Megalomaniak (Felix Kütt) - Documentation Structuring
@kichristensen (Kim Christensen) - Port Sorcar (v2) to Blender 2.80 (#54)
@SevenNeumann (Mark) - Icons for Sorcar & layout design for main menu (#46)

And the amazing BlenderArtists community!