Variant Helper#
The Variant Helper is a scripted point helper that helps create simple geometry variants. The Variant Helper is supported by Live mode - which will synchronize the current active variant.
The Variant Helper is available in the Create Panel: Create Panel > Helpers > NVIDIA Omniverse
Note
The Variant Helper is expected to be at scene root level. Nested Variant Helpers are not supported.
Using Variants#
Variant Options |
Utility |
---|---|
Picked Variant |
The top control is a label that provides the user the current variant marked as the selected variant.
|
Variant List |
|
|
Lists all variants that are to be exported with the USD.
|
|
The selected variant and its children are made visible.
|
|
Makes that selection your current picked variant and adjusts the label as such.
|
Add |
Adds selected object to the variants list.
|
Remove |
Removes the selected item from the variants list. The item below replaces the removed variant as your selection.
|
Display Controls |
|
|
Displays all variants for the Max user.
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Creating Variants#
To create a USD Variant in 3ds Max, use the Omniverse USD Variants Helper.
Setup#
In a new scene, create 3 objects (Sphere, Cube, Cone).
Center them on the world origin (0,0,0)
Creating Omniverse Variant Helpers#
Select the OmniVariants helper.
Create Panel > Helpers (tab) > |omni| (Drop Down Menu)
Click and drag in the viewport to create an OmniVariants helper.
Adding Variants to the Helper#
With the Variant Helper selected, switch over to the Modify Tab.
In the modifier stack, you should see
OmniVariants
. Select it.When selected, the Modifier should display the USD Variants Panel below the Modifier List.
In the USD Variants panel, select the
+
below the list.In the Hierarchy/Layer panel, select the Sphere you created in Setup.
In the USD Variants panel, select the
+
again.In the Hierarchy/Layer panel, select the Cube you created in Setup.
In the USD Variants panel, select the
+
again.In the Hierarchy/Layer panel, select the Cone you created in Setup.
Your Variants List should now contain all 3 objects.
Displaying Variants#
In the USD Variants Panel, select and de-select the
Show all
check box.Select a variant in the list to display just the variant of your choosing.
Export Behavior#
When exporting a Prop with variants, the items listed by variants and their children should not be considered as objects themselves because they are part of an object with variants.