I've got no idea what the `Merge` node internally does memory-wise but I don't really care as an user because it is not made to be an optimization method as you think. In proper data-flow graphs like the one exposed in Houdini, certain nodes can generate new data streams while others can manipulate the data from the stream they're being connected to. A `Merge` node simply takes two—or more—data streams and put them into a single one. This is a core concept when you have to deal with such graphs—it is so essential that the `Merge` node is probably one of the most used nodes in Houdini.
Groups in Houdini share roughly the same purpose than clusters from Softimage. They are a core concept in Houdini as every node understand them. What you can do with clusters, you can do with groups, and much more out of the box. On 10 March 2015 at 22:27, Jason S <[email protected]> wrote: > Does it internally reinterpret duplicates (or hold in memory and scene > description) the entire object as many times as there are local > "sub-object" attibutes? (like Maya?) > > Which defeats the purpose of using merged objects as optimization method > (despite Maya having a --not that much of an-- easier time dealing with > large object counts) > > Because apart how soft can handle many-many polys at a time, (especially > so today comparatively) > you can very easily treat sub-objects (clusters) as just regular objects > assinging properties like materials, visibility, ... selecting, > transforming and sorting them in groups, > therefore quite a bit further amplifying that maximum reach in scene > complexity while remaining humanly manage-ably workable. > (benefit also very much applicable for non-insanely-complex scenes) > > > > On 03/10/15 5:50, Gerbrand Nel wrote: > > Thanks man.. it really is that simple!! > > On 10/03/2015 06:16, Christopher Crouzet wrote: > > There's a `Material` node in the SOP context to apply different materials > on a same object. You can insert it before you merge your objects or apply > it to different groups. > > > On 10 March 2015 at 11:09, Gerbrand Nel <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Hey guys >> Quick houdini question. >> In soft I can make cluster for materials. >> In houdini I always end up with some merged thing with multiple objects >> in there. >> As far as I can tell, we assign materials at the object level, but what >> do I do if I want different materials for the different things that makes >> up my object? >> I know this is a RTFM question, but the FM is thick, and I'm lazy >> Thanks >> G >> > > > > -- > Christopher Crouzet > *http://christophercrouzet.com* <http://christophercrouzet.com> > > > > -- Christopher Crouzet *http://christophercrouzet.com* <http://christophercrouzet.com>
