Instancing is one of the core features of TouchDesigner, and there are several ways to make the most of it. Let’s explore some creative examples.
You learn something new every day. Especially in TouchDesigner. There is always a new operator to discover, a new function to explore, or a traditional method to reimagine in an innovative way.
Take instancing, for example. The creative possibilities are nearly endless. Just browse through the many tutorials out there – including the ones on this blog – and you will be amazed by how versatile instancing can be.
In this article, we will explore three creative ways to use instancing in TouchDesigner. Let’s dive in!
Instancing with Replicator
The Replicator is definitely one of my favorite components in TouchDesigner. At its core, it creates a series of replicas of a master operator, whether it is a Movie File In TOP, a rendered geometry, or even a complex network. You can also use a Table DAT to store values that drive further manipulation within the Replicator.
What makes instancing with Replicator so fun is that we can create as many unique geometries as we like just by adding CHOP data. This allows us to introduce variation and complexity with ease. Isn’t that lovely?
Let’s walk through an example. In the attached patch, we start with a Base COMP that includes a simple SOP-based particle system, which is converted into CHOP data. We then add a Noise and Trail CHOP and merge them.
In the main network, we create a separate Noise-Trail CHOP chain and convert it into a Table DAT, which becomes the Template DAT for the Replicator.
When we instance the GEO component inside the Base using this CHOP and DAT data, we get a set of replicas with diverse visual behaviors.
By linking each replica to a Switch TOP, we can easily cycle through variations. We can take things even further by feeding in different data sources for secondary instancing inside the Base component.
Text Instancing
Working with text in TouchDesigner is incredibly rewarding. It is simple, direct, and pairs beautifully with audio reactive systems.
So how can we creatively instance text? Here is a quick example.
First, we need some text. I have ve created a .csv file containing inspirational quotes from the Greek philosopher Heraclitus and imported it into a Table DAT. We then use a noise-driven CHOP network to randomly select three rows and render the text using Text SOPs.
Now the fun begins. We create three geometries – one for each quote – and animate them with three different CHOP networks using Noise, Trail, and Math CHOPs. Inside the Geometry COMP, we apply random scale, translation, and color transformations.
Then we composite the output, add a feedback loop using the Bloom COMP and a Cache TOP, and voilà: philosophical, generative visuals come to life!
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Instancing with Computer Vision Data
Thanks to tools like Kinect, RealSense, Orbbec, MediaPipe, and OpenCV, computer vision is more accessible than ever inside TouchDesigner. We can now build interactive real time visuals based on body tracking, hand tracking, facial landmarks, and more.
Instancing computer vision data opens the door to unique creative workflows. Let’s look at an example.
We are using the Face Track CHOP, which, as the name suggests, provides real time face tracking. We begin with a Video Device In TOP, flip it, and connect it to the Face Track CHOP to extract the x, y, and z position of the head.
For the visual output, we connect the video feed to an Nvidia Background TOP, apply cropping and caching, and then composite the layers for the final result.
To visually represent the face, we build a grid of rectangle SOPs, animate them using Noise CHOP data, and instance them via the GEO component. The instancing uses Face Track CHOP data to control position, scale, and color.
We then composite the final output with the background using the Nvidia Background TOP, and voilà: a retro-futuristic visual that feels like a cross between Max Headroom and a low-budget sci-fi surveillance camera.
Wrap Up
Instancing is the Swiss Army knife of TouchDesigner. From intricate particle systems to unexpected, out-of-the-box visual solutions, instancing allows us to build complexity quickly and elegantly.
Integrating instancing with tools like the Replicator, GLSL, or even the new POP operators can truly supercharge our creative process.
As always: the sky is the limit.
