To be able to use the layout tool, your agent group must have one of the following modules applied: pointLayout, cacheRead or any other layout + agentFilter (for deleting agents) + offset (for offsetting agents).
This feature is for Maya only.
Layout Tool and Points Layout Module
Create a new scene and a new agent group. Add a "pointsLayout" and a "stateMachine" module to your agent group.
To activate the layout tool you have two options:
- Select the "pointsLayout" module in the module list, then click on the "Agents Layout Tool" button in the module options.
- With your agent group selected, activate the tool in the Atoms menu. Atoms > Tools > Agents Layout Tool
Click in the viewport to start placing agents.
Please make sure to be on the first frame of your simulation when adding or editing agents.
The Agents Layout Tool GUI
The agent layout tool is your best companion when populating your scene.
You have several modes for editing your agents: add, selection, move and rotate.
Add Mode
Left Click to add agents in the viewport.
Ctrl+Left click and drag to edit the direction for the agents.
Shift+Left click and drag to rotate the layout (grid and poisson)
Select Mode
Left click and drag to select agents.
Shift+Left click and drag to add agents to the selection.
Ctrl+Left click and drag to toggle agents.
Move Mode
Click and drag to move the selected agents.
Rotate Mode
Click and drag to rotate the selected agents on the up vector.
Shift+Left Click and drag to rotate the selected agents around their average point.
In the ground mesh list, you can add reference meshes that the tool will use when placing your agents.
Make sure add the same ground mesh as an height field to your agent group, otherwise your agents will intersect with the ground.
In the Agent Types list, you can select the agent types you will be adding to your agent group. If the "Random" checkbox is ticked, Atoms will pick an agent from list randomly.
There are different layout type for placing your agents: point, grid and poisson.
Both grid and poisson have some options you can tweak through the GUI.
Alternatively you can right click on the viewport and change the settings via the menu.
Please take some time to familiarize with all the options of the Agent Layout Tool.
