Scatter object questions

[elihu252]

I'm currently working on a project that would benefit greatly from using the scatter object, but I'm finding this feature quite mystifying and have a couple questions..

1. How do I instance more than 4 unique objects? Is there some sort of identification attribute that I can apply to my points such as @instance that can point to the geometry I need to scatter? Right now, I'm only able to get it to work but manually dragging objects into the 4 available fields under the octane > scatter tab. Alternatively, if there is a way to increase the 4 object limit, then that would be another option (albeit less ideal).

2. How can I randomize the color of scattered objects? I've tried using the 'instance color' node with 'rgb4k_map.ppm' texture without any luck. Assigning that node + texture just turns everything a single color (yellow). From what I gather, the use of attributes like Cd isn't supported with the scatter object.

Thanks!

[galleon27]

Scatter object was created for C4D and then ported to Standalone and other DCCs. Its not necessary in houdini since houdini has its own scattering system. There are different ways to scatter objects inside houdini, one of them and probably the easiest is with Copy SOP.
There are loads of resources on that topic and here are some of them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCijuuNIRrs&t=199s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDa-ji0ULr4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BpK_KmTzgs

There is some info about attributes on instances here. Randomizing color when scattering multiple objects is currently bugged. It works if its only one object.

When using the 'rgb4k_map.pmm' method, in the octane parameters tab, you need to change Instance IDs from parameter to Packed RGBA values from Cd attribute

[elihu252]

Thanks for the reply. I've not had success using the Copy SOP as it's very slow (seems like Octane is trying to mesh every instance individually at rendertime). However, the "Instance" SOP is working nicely with performance similar to Octane's scatter object. Adding random colors to my points is also working when using 'rgb4k_map.ppm' on the 'Texture_Instance_Color' node.

[galleon27]

When using the Copy SOP method, you need to turn on Packed geo instancing parameter in the octane parameters tab.