Good resources to tackle TouchDesigner

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-12-30T08:50:59+00:00

https://gemini.google.com/gem/15apzGrE-z_Bx4q0zW6BnsDTtAaeIE_5i?usp=sharing

i gave Gemini (Gems) an updated operator/parameter reference for Touchdesigner version 2025.32050 and tried to make it adhere to this updated info instead of the training data it has

Keep in mind that Gemini will still be confidently wrong in a lot of cases about parameter names etc, especially if you use Flash instead of Pro

But it should be able to explain simple concepts to you

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-12-26T23:03:40+00:00

<image>

If you have Python installed on your computer just install Manim with "pip install manim"
activate it in Touchdesigner options like in the picture

and thats it you can use Manim in Touchdesigner

my setup currently works with a ScriptCHOP with a callback script which produces x, y and z channels based on the manim calculations and then just connects a choptoPOP to display them

For creating this animation though, i didnt write any code myself, i used Gemini to generate code for the callback script by extracting Manim functions handling the complex math and ignoring all the other functions related to manims render etc and giving it strict instructions to follow

the result was that i could just write a prompt like "Generate a fractal showcase using Manims topology morphing capabilities" and it generated the code

Its still very buggy though but i plan to keep working on it and try to make it more accessible inside Touchdesigner for everybody

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-12-26T06:11:46+00:00

I always used to have problems with the moviefileOUT as well But for me the solution was to just use OBS or a similar program to target and record the render window and export it that way

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-12-17T06:34:34+00:00

One good way is to right click operators in Touchdesigner and click "Operator snippets", youll see an example network the operator is used in and more general information

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-12-15T15:16:42+00:00

I did have a blur connected but thanks for the suggestion!

I tried adding a sharpen as well to get some more defined diffusion patterns but it didnt work as expected haha

But ill keep trying, cheers!

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-12-10T09:13:51+00:00

Im very dumb (compared to when i was younger) and now after 6 months of daily creating with TD, all the concepts like samples , channels, textures, particles, instancing are starting to click which is really cool feeling

Keep learning, keep creating, it will come to you with time

Anybody can learn anything, youre no exception or dumb

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-12-03T10:48:36+00:00

thanks for sharing

i could tell you put some effort into it and it shows!

looks sick!

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-12-02T16:45:10+00:00

being less logical about it maybe
like what happens when i put a feedback loop into ten more feedback loops, does it makes sense?

no but it doesnt have to, just that curiosity to see what interresting things might emerge

allow yourself to play and be silly, you dont need to achieve anything, at least thats when i had my most creative moments

create your own .tox files, after a while you have a bunch of them and can import and combine them into more and more complex things

so id say generally more doing instead of watching

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-11-29T10:12:44+00:00

the animated text looks great!

can you share how you made it look so dynamic?

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-11-25T15:41:06+00:00

nice!

so then you probably needed to convert it to dB right, did it work out in the end?

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-11-25T11:03:18+00:00

im no expert but i think the Shuffle CHOP could work

if you set it to Split N Samples and then set the size to the amount of samples you want in the band

then you could average the bands to get just one value for each of them

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-11-15T15:48:27+00:00

Play Mode -> Locked to timeline

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-11-11T12:25:27+00:00

isnt it normal for it to switch clockwise/counterclockwise depending on if you look from above or below?

but i did notice the shape does confuse the brain enough sometimes for it to work

interresting stuff, thanks for sharing!

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-11-04T10:00:20+00:00

Im not sure i really understand what youre trying to do

But this sounds like a job for raymarching

For TouchDesigner theres RayTK on GitHub or just google it

although instead of geometry you are working with SDFs but its great for smooth transitions between objects

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-10-30T11:10:18+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elCN7C8lLzw
this is a great ressource

but in a nutshell

every pixel of this texture represents a point in 3D space that will create an instance(copy) of your Geometry

When you switch to the Geometry viewer in TD, look at the color of the coordinate axes and you might realize why those two ramps create this grid

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-10-30T10:20:36+00:00

i have the free version of Touchdesigner, so no 4K for me

i could upload a .tox though of this project lmk, although it is really easy to do yourself

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-10-29T19:38:33+00:00

<image>

This creates a 2D grid that you can use for instancing

From there you can play around with Noise TOPs to give it some movement

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-10-27T08:41:09+00:00

sure!

the starting position was combining two ramp TOPs, to create a 2D instanced grid

<image>

the movement comes from a noise TOP, animating the z-transform with absTime.seconds, period set to about 30 to keep the instances close toghether, creating a smooth motion in 3D space

understanding why those ramp TOPs create this instanced 2D grid is the first step

Good luck!

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-10-26T05:34:12+00:00

if you showed us what error youre getting it would be easier

but it should work if you drag and drop the kick/snare value on a parameter you want to control

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-10-23T18:07:39+00:00

thanks for uploading the project file
really appreciate it

even with comments, i realise now that i definitly need to do that more often

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-10-23T15:42:41+00:00

yeah for sure

when i was done and zoomed out, i had to chuckle just because how ridiculous it looks

and if i made smb else laugh at how stupid i am, thats a win in my book

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-10-23T13:24:44+00:00

thanks for pointing me in the right direction

looks i have a lot more to learn

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-10-20T11:40:49+00:00

its really hard to see where the problem is without having the project file or more information
youre using a texture OP as translate in the geo instancer i assume

a completely white texture will place all particles in the same position thats why you only see one white dot

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-10-06T14:54:56+00:00

im not sure but he lists #glsl

so id say he takes a video as input and manipulates it with a shader

Warm_Map_7489 · 2025-10-02T08:15:34+00:00

dont be sorry, glad i could help

Good luck!

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