April 2019

A FEW SIMPLE PYTHON TOOLS TO MAKE COMPING LIFE JUST (A BIT) EASIER.

b_procedural_backdrop

1 - How to use it

So first things first, let´s place the code where it can be reached, create a new Nuke Menu and set up a shortcut.

Distribute the code

Download the script from the link below save it as a Python file called "b_procedural_backdrop.py" where Nuke can find it. In other words, place it within the Nuke Plugin Path file structure. For more info, read my previous posts.

Edit the menu.py file

Now we have the Python module where Nuke can find it, we´re gonna add the following lines to our fantastic menu.py so that we can effectively use it:

import b_procedural_backdrop.py
n_menu = nuke.menu('Nuke')
b_menu = n_menu.addMenu('MenuName')
b_menu.addCommand('b_procedural_backdrop.py', b_procedural_backdrop.main_function()', 'ctrl+a')

Save the menu.py and restart Nuke.

2 - Try it

You'll notice that there is a new menu in your upper menu bar, listing the new 'b_procedural_backdrop' command and its Hotkey. Just select a bunch of nodes and press 'alt+a '(it´s the hotkey we set up earlier, obviously you can change this to any other of your convenience). A Nuke Panel like this one should appear:

As you can see, there are a few parameters to deal with:

Here is a Backdrop Layout example to give you an idea of this would look like:

Additionally to the backdrops, as you can notice a dotted spine is created close to the layout so that you can use it as the main spine of your comp, in case that would be of your interest.

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b_ibkstacker

1 - How to use it

After having installed the code and assigned it to a shortcut like in the first example, just select an IBK Colour Node and run the tool.  A Nuke Panel like this one should appear:

As you can see, there are a few parameters to deal with:

Now simply select from the drop-down menu the recursion limit  and check the "add corrective roto" button if necessary. Having done that, click OK and in short time you will have a stack of IBK Colour Nodes linked via expressions to the first one, along with an IBK Gizmo connected both to the Clean Plate and to the Plate.

Alternatively, if you checked the "add corrective roto" checkbox, you would have something like this :

There you go, a fully automated IBK stacking system that will save you a brief time each time you use it.

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b_distance_normalizer

1 - How to use it

This time we are dealing with a Gizmo that has two inputs: "inputcam" & "inputaxis". Note that you can plug any 3d Node that has a "Translate" Knob.

On the properties bin you will find four knobs:

So now you are unstoppable when it comes to animating stuff depending on how close or far away a specific object may be. Not that bad, huh?

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b_cam_puller

1 - How to use it

After having installed the code and assigned it to a shortcut like in the first example, just run the tool.  A Nuke Panel like this one should appear:

As you can see, there are a few parameters to deal with:

Now click OK and the selected Camera Node will have the corresponding values set up. Open the curve editor and check out the selected Camera's  "focal_distance" knob.  It will have an animation curve with each of the focal plane values on each of the frames in the passed frame list.

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b_keymix_this

1 - How to use it

After having installed the code and assigned it to a shortcut like in the first example, just select any node and run the tool:

before/after

There you go, a fully automated KeyMix setup system that will save you a few seconds time each time you use it. Not too much I know, but something is something, right?

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