POPs: Point Cloud from 3D model

This tutorial covers the very basics of generating a point cloud effect from a 3D model in Touchdesigner using particle systems in the new POPs family.

Just like in SOPs, POPs features a File In POP to import 3D assets in the most popular formats such as (.obj), please be aware that you won't be able to directly edit the model in Touchdesigner so any major changes and resizing should be down before in appropriate softwares such as Blender.

From here add a Particle POP, a list of options will be available in the Parameters' window - you can change the maximum particles amount if you want a denser effect, increase or decrease the birth rate and life expect to control how long 1 single particle exists for, etc., more details are available here: https://derivative.ca/UserGuide/Particle_POP .

At this point, we just need to render our point cloud as a 2D visual, so just like for SOPs, we connect a Geo COMP to the Particle POP, then add a Camera COMP and Light COMP then add a Render TOP and in the parameters window for it, set the Alpha value of the Background Colour to 1 if you want a black background. 

 

These are all the basics to getting a point cloud effect out of a 3D model, however should you wish to further animate your point cloud, you can look into Noise POPs, Transform POPs, etc. and be aware that POPs behave very similarly to SOPs, so if you find an online tutorial for an effect in SOPs in can probably be replicated in POPs too. 

Finally if you wish to add realistic colours to your point cloud based off the texture of your 3D model