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Create Sources#

Sources are authorable Universal Scene Description (USD) helpers. They do not read or process scientific data themselves, and they do not re-execute when the stage reloads. Create them from a prim’s context menu with Create > CAE Sources. The available entries depend on the selected prim.

Bounding Box#

A Bounding Box captures the spatial extent of one or more selected datasets. Use it as a visual reference or as a region of interest (ROI) for operators.

  1. Select one or more dataset prims.

  2. Right-click and select Create > CAE Sources > Bounding Box.

  3. Press F to frame the result.

The new box is a standalone USD prim under /World/CAE. Rename, translate, or scale it to define the region that an operator should process. Moving a connected ROI automatically re-executes the dependent operator.

Bounding Box showing the spatial extent of the vehicle dataset

Unit Sphere#

A Unit Sphere provides seed points for Streamlines and Flow emitters.

  1. Select a dataset or Bounding Box whose bounds should size and place the sphere.

  2. Right-click and select Create > CAE Sources > Unit Sphere.

  3. In Choose Sphere Resolution, enter the number of latitude and longitude divisions. The default is 16.

Each sphere vertex becomes a seed. Move and scale the sphere to control the starting region. Other geometry can also serve as a seed source when selected in an operator’s Seeds relationship.

Unit Sphere positioned within a Bounding Box

Colormap#

A Colormap is a reusable color and opacity ramp stored in the stage.

  1. Right-click in the Stage panel and select Create > CAE Sources > Colormap.

  2. Edit its Domain, Domain Boundary Mode, and color and opacity control points in the Properties panel.

  3. Right-click the Colormap and select Copy Color LUT Texture URL or Copy Opacity LUT Texture URL. Paste that URL into the corresponding lut or opacity_lut input on a surface operator’s Shader.

Try It: Create a Bounding Box and Unit Sphere#

Continue from Try It: Explore the Vehicle Dataset.

  1. Select the nested volume dataset at Base > Fluid_Domain > Fluid_Domain.

  2. Right-click and select Create > CAE Sources > Bounding Box. A BoundingBox_Fluid_Domain prim appears under /World/CAE.

    CAE Sources menu showing Bounding Box, Unit Sphere, and Colormap

  3. Press F to frame the Bounding Box.

    Bounding Box surrounding the vehicle dataset

  4. Select the Bounding Box, then right-click and select Create > CAE Sources > Unit Sphere. Accept the default resolution.

    Choose Sphere Resolution dialog with the default value of 16

  5. Move the sphere toward the inlet side of the Bounding Box. This sphere becomes the seed source for Streamlines in the next section.

    Unit Sphere positioned at the inlet side of the vehicle Bounding Box