Katana for Technical Artists | Macros
Instructor
Adam Davis
Level
Experienced
Length
1h 22m 19s
Version Required
Katana 4.0 and later
Introduction to User Parameters and Macros:
In this video, you will learn how to use User Parameters on a Group node to construct a macro with a custom UI for manipulating parameters from nodes contained within the Group.
By learning how to properly utilize macros and User Parameters, you can create custom tools to share with other artists or departments. Saved Macros can be brought in through the node creation menu and used across any number of Katana projects helping you to avoid repeating your work.
You’ll begin by taking a look at a macro example that allows you to create and switch between different primitive types. Adam demonstrates how to set this up by linking the value of a contained Switch node to a User Parameter on the parent level using various methods, including both Python and C++ reference expressions.
Throughout the video, you’ll explore the various parameter options such as numbers, strings, or colors, and the different types of corresponding parameter widgets, including pop-up menus, ramps, Scene Graph Location inputs, and script buttons for running Python code.
As well as this, you’ll be introduced to the widget options, including setting minimum and maximum possible values, displaying values as sliders, and locking values. These options differ depending on the type of User Parameter, learning how to customize your widget to suit these different parameter types is important as it will allow you to create a more user-friendly and effective UI for artists to work with.
You will also cover the Conditional Visibility Options to set visibility or locking of specific parameters based on custom conditions.
Finally, Adam will show you how to change the Help hyperlink option at the top of your Macro parameters so you can point your macro to your studio’s wiki page before saving your Group out as a Macro.
Macro Use Case - Build a Reusable Turntable Setup:
In this video, you’ll apply what you learned in the Intro to Macros to create a Macro for a turntable setup.
The turntable setup contains various options that can be switched between, such as day/night/neutral lighting, free/constrained camera, and enabled/disabled color check. Adam will demonstrate how to include these and other options as User Parameters on the Group level before saving it out as a Macro with a custom UI for this setup.
Throughout the video, you’ll learn how different widget types are more suitable for certain parameters, as well as how parameter groups, widget options, and different types of expressions can be used to build a UI that is practical and intuitive. The same principles can be applied when creating other macros so you can easily share and reuse them across projects and between artists.
In this video, you will learn how to use User Parameters on a Group node to construct a macro with a custom UI for manipulating parameters from nodes contained within the Group.
By learning how to properly utilize macros and User Parameters, you can create custom tools to share with other artists or departments. Saved Macros can be brought in through the node creation menu and used across any number of Katana projects helping you to avoid repeating your work.
You’ll begin by taking a look at a macro example that allows you to create and switch between different primitive types. Adam demonstrates how to set this up by linking the value of a contained Switch node to a User Parameter on the parent level using various methods, including both Python and C++ reference expressions.
Throughout the video, you’ll explore the various parameter options such as numbers, strings, or colors, and the different types of corresponding parameter widgets, including pop-up menus, ramps, Scene Graph Location inputs, and script buttons for running Python code.
As well as this, you’ll be introduced to the widget options, including setting minimum and maximum possible values, displaying values as sliders, and locking values. These options differ depending on the type of User Parameter, learning how to customize your widget to suit these different parameter types is important as it will allow you to create a more user-friendly and effective UI for artists to work with.
You will also cover the Conditional Visibility Options to set visibility or locking of specific parameters based on custom conditions.
Finally, Adam will show you how to change the Help hyperlink option at the top of your Macro parameters so you can point your macro to your studio’s wiki page before saving your Group out as a Macro.
Macro Use Case - Build a Reusable Turntable Setup:
In this video, you’ll apply what you learned in the Intro to Macros to create a Macro for a turntable setup.
The turntable setup contains various options that can be switched between, such as day/night/neutral lighting, free/constrained camera, and enabled/disabled color check. Adam will demonstrate how to include these and other options as User Parameters on the Group level before saving it out as a Macro with a custom UI for this setup.
Throughout the video, you’ll learn how different widget types are more suitable for certain parameters, as well as how parameter groups, widget options, and different types of expressions can be used to build a UI that is practical and intuitive. The same principles can be applied when creating other macros so you can easily share and reuse them across projects and between artists.