Combing, Brushing, and Cutting Hair is in Blender’s Future!

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thumb1.jpgJust imagine what that will mean for your characters, and more…the ability to easily shape and design not only hair but, anything created using particles!

Fortunately, we can do just a little bit more than imagine. Here’s a demo video of what’s currently being developed.

Video #1: Combing and Cutting Demo

Jahka (the developer) writes:

The Particles edit mode is coming along nicely. It will still be a while until sufficient functionality & stability is achieved so that I can make a patch for you guys to play with.

You can get current info on the Particles Rewrite, here.

Since we’re on the subject of Blender’s developing Particles System, here’s another video, reported by Brian (of BlenderNation.com), that demonstrates some other features (including softbody particles!).

Video #2: Hair Tutorial

The features demonstrated in this video are available as a patch.

Before downloading a patch, be sure to check the OS compatibility and the features that are made available by the patch. It’s also a good idea to install the patch to a separate directory from your main Blender install.

Please Note: The combing, brushing, and cutting of hair is not available in a patch, only the new particles functionality seen in Video #2. Also, none of these features will be in the next official release. As usual, we’ll keep you posted as things develop.

There are so many new features being developed for Blender’s Particles System that it really boggles the mind when you begin to realize the potential.

*** A Big Thank You to Jahka and All of the Developers. ***

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    • http://deeppixel.uw.hu Zsolt

      Whoaaa… no way!! Thats too cool!!!
      And its not even Christmas…
      THANK YOU THANK YOU for all the developers!!

    • http://niel.seyanim.com madman

      I see that video a few days ago in ‘Niel – Forums’.

      It’s really cool feature on blender…

      Any other software (commercial) have this tool or feature??

    • Josh

      Absolutely amazing. My hat’s off to the developers. Keep up the good work!

    • http://www.eofw.org Jarod

      wow amazing!
      good job!

    • aws357

      Basically, they replaced the tedious curves by parent particles. Genius.
      Then you can comb, grow, cut style on the fly… Genius^2

    • aws357

      Ooooh…. while I am at it… two words come to my ravaged mind in the end…
      Dreadlocks and dandruff :p

    • Matt

      Thats really impressive – I’m sure this will recieve a lot of attention when it is released. I think Shave and a Haircut has a combing feature too.

    • http://www.freewebs.com/kingoroff kingoroff

      Me…want…2.43…NOW DAMMIT!
      Those tools look so cool!

    • kostas

      To madman:
      Actually, Softimage|XSI has this feature since v4.0 I think, but only in the full version which costs some 6.000Euro! What the developers of Blender are able to do blows my mind too. I think Blender is one of the few programs that really demonstrate what the open source model is capable of.
      …which on the other hand makes me a bit ashamed not to be able to contribute to the development myself. Well, I can help in other ways I guess, as part of the community. Time to complete that model too..

      Anyone knows who I must write to about a greek translation? Anyone?

    • blackcoatman

      Kostas, I’m Kostas too :P and i think I could try to give a hand with translating in greek :)
      You developers are doing a GREAT job!

    • http://xolosh.dyndns.org Xolosh

      Wow ! That´s one of the features, I´ve ever wanted in Blender3D. If Blender´s development of features keeps up in that speed, I can throw away my Cinema4D :)

    • http://mediawiki.blender.org/index.php/User:Hoehrer Hoehrer

      Cool stuff – i followed the development of the particle-rewrite and i think this will attract lots of profession

      @kingoroff:
      I doubt that this will be in Blender 2.43 since the code for it has already been feature-frozen (A small note on this in the original news would be a good idea). But I’m sure we can expect it in the next big release after that. – i might be wrong on that though.

      @kostas:
      I think you could check out the developer forum and the “Get Involved” pages. I’m not sure myself, but searching/asking in the forum will turn up something for sure ;-)

      Werner

    • grafixsuz

      Xolosh, no need to throw anything away, just keep as part of your tools box. But that Jahka is one Giant asset to the developers, and I am sure that they have heard it all before, but those Developers all deserve a well paid holiday from the community. How about it guys? Let’s start a fund to say thanks to these guys for their hard work and generous hearts!

    • kostas

      To blackcoatman:

      The mail is [email protected]. Contact me if you are serious about it. I have some free time these days, and I would really like to pull this through.
      But then again, the question remains, who do we talk to?

      To everyone else:

      It’s not really relevant to the above but please be patient.

    • meialua

      Sweet Jimeny Jing Jangs … 8)

    • tom

      kostas,

      you talk to me :)

      Do you want to translate the interface or the wiki manual or both?

      For the wiki sign up at the wiki then you email me your user name and I give you edit permissions. For the interface translations copy a po file and start a greek version then once you have enough ready email it to me and I’ll commit it.

      LetterRip (LetterRip AT gmail dot com)

    • kostas

      tom,

      I had the interface in mind, for a start. Let’s see how this works out. I’ll contact you via e-mail for the rest… Thanks!

    • http://www.michaelhartlef.de MikeHart

      Wow,

      that looks nice. If that isn’t a reason to use blender, then I don’t know.

      Btw. which screencapturing software is used to make these videos?

      Michael

    • ethan

      Yahoo, I just wet my pants… I am happy (not about the wet pants)

    • http://www.youtube.com/blendercross blendercross

      I think it was time that partikles get more choises of use – and that what i saw is really great!!
      …what a development – that i call amazing!!

    • carlinhos

      It’s just AMAZING!!
      Blender is approving so fast, I can’t believe!

      Thanks guys,
      Carlinhos

    • http://3d-synthesis.com ROUBAL

      Very impressive work!

      These features will push Blender under the sunlights !

      When I think that I can’t even write a single line in Python code, Developers appears like gods for me !

      Thanks a lot!

      Philippe.

    • http://patriarchproduction.blogspot.com Mikhail P. Schalk

      This is incredible. When it’s going to be ready?

    • http://blendernewbies.com Kernon

      Please be aware that the features demonstrated will NOT be available in the next (2.43) release of Blender. However, as mentioned in the article, there are patches available for some of the features.

    • http://vladius.fanatic.ru Vladius T

      as ive already said on irc – nice! better strand rendering solution and blender will be completely hair-ready ;)

    • steve

      @grafixsuz: yeah, let’s send all the developers on a nice carribean island.
      But let’s only sponsor those devs who take their laptop to that coding
      session *erm* I mean vacation.
      ;-)

    • tom

      I´ve just played with the hair-dynamics (JHK-particles in conjunction with the softbody) – WOW, looks like real hair, it´s – already in this stage of development – great!!!

    • Blackboe

      Hey, guess what another feature he’s messing with is. Adaptive step rendering, kinda like auto hair LOD.

    • Robert

      With the new particle system, would it be possible to have individual particle parameters (such as age, velocity, applied force … ) as inputs to the material node system?

      This would be very useful for making a particle’s visual appearance completely parametric.

    • Blackboe

      I dunno about that, but I you can set a lot of properties with UV mapped textures.

    • Simon Larsen

      Absolutely amazing!

      It almost impressed my pants of! :D

    • Tynach

      WOW. I was going to make this a feature request, but I thought I was getting ahead of myself…

      GREAT JOB!!!

    • http://www.ckbrd.de cekuhnen

      kostas

      you are right about Blender being the only Open Source software which demonstrates the power behind it.

      The most impressive feature with the hair tool is just the sweet cut option.

      Claas

    • OBI_Ron

      What can I say that has not already been said. Open source rules – no built-in obsolescence, no withholding functionality for a pricey upgrade – just BTTW programming by the best. Thanks to all of the developers!!!!!!

    • qwequ777

      absolutely stunning &
      really amazing!!!

      big thanks to the developers!
      (I already see those wonderful animations with realistic hair… :D)

    • RNS

      This is great!,but I fear that Blender can become a commercial
      product uner an asume name and that will shutdown the blender
      univers for good.

      Blender is having an effect on other sorfware companies sales
      and who want spend a year income on a sorfware that only good
      short time period.

      I’m affraid that the sorfwarw war had just begun.

    • RipSting

      This is the future, and more than I could have ever imagined. The abilities of the coders are obvious, and this must have taken some serious effort! Integrating this feature, along with render baking, are the final steps in Blender’s “Catch-Up with the Pros” phase. Thanks to the great coders!

    • http://www.instinctive.de Alexander Ewering

      rns: actually, I’m pretty sure a lot of commercial packages already have a hell of a lot of Blender code in them. It’s just too easy to steal code or algorithms from open-source apps :)

    • tom

      Algorithms quite likely, those they are completely within their legal rights to take.

      Code would be a pretty serious risk for them. There are tools that can be used for find misappropriated code even in binaries.

      LetterRip

    • Bmud

      @Vladius T (and anyone else interested..)
      1) Improved hair size rendering (WIP): http://blender.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9468&highlight=hair
      2) Particles re-write article on BN (textured particles): http://www.blendernation.com/2006/10/30/development-report-particles-rewrite/

      @Xolosh: All these things combined are amazing to think about. Working together in unison… Wow. Personally, I would throw Cinema4D away too now that I’ve seen this.

      @RNS: Lots of other programs are already using Blender code as Alex said; but the deciding factor is that the code is in Blender — where it’s free. It always will be free as is dictated by the GNU. Read Ton’s interview posted about a week ago. :)

      @JHK: Thankyou for all your hard work. Keep working at it and get help when needed so we can use this feature as soon as possible! :)

    • Bmud

      Oh, and I nearly forgot… (while that first post is awaiting moderation…..)
      @Jahka: Thankyou too. That video made me crap my pants. :P

    • http://blenderheads.blogspot.com geckoman

      I noticed that the tutorials where made with with the flash program called wink. Its nice to know that its being used. I had used it when I was helping teach blender at my school my senior year. If your ever interested in using it just visit its home page at (“http://www.debugmode.com/wink/”)

      Oh! by the way, nice tutorial. I like the idea of this new partical manipulator. I’m getting tired of the current way of messing with particals. Its ok how it works now, but the new upcoming deal is something worth looking forward too. Plus the blender will be better looking in the eyes of all.

    • Chris Da Lunatic

      Actually, that feature is in 3ds max. It is kinda hard to use though. In fact, everything in 3ds is hard to use. That’s why I perfer blender!

    • Hee Hoo

      This is awesome! I wish windows developed like this!

    • Calvin

      Nice,
      Can the comb be animated?

    • http://waynefox3.googlepages.com Wayne C Fox III

      Man oh man blender does it again
      this software ceases to amaze me
      its just that awesome with the advanced in the game engine and this and just everything
      i can say i LOVE blender3D i’m sure everyone else here can say the same too
      i’m SO glad i stumbled across this program a few years ago when i did so i could get used to it

      Keep rocking Blender ,
      Wayne C Fox III

    • http://Walla.com MOXAB

      Wow! Thats something! It’s a wonder why the developers aren’t charging us for their hard work into making Blender Kick-Awesome.

      That softbody hair is the coolest thing ever. We can now have characters with really realistc hair!

    • Reynante M. Martinez

      Haha! I really can’t believe the pace of Blender’s development. I’m laughing in awe and disbelief at what I saw on the video. Wow. I almost fainted. I can’t wait to have a try on that feature. Thanks so much! =)

    • Robert

      I’d also love to be able to apply particle forces from a (3d procedural) texture. It would be a quick way of adding customisable turbulence to a particle system.

    • Samuel

      But, it’s this two tools are patch for any blender?

      or when release 2.43 version can this both tools apply as patches?

    • http://blendernewbies.com Kernon

      @Robert
      If I’m understanding you correctly, Blender’s current Particles System can already do that.

      On the Particle Motion panel, specify the texture channel to use for force. There are several other settings to use on the same panel. This works for static and animated particles.

    • RamboBaby

      Using Blender code in other applications without a license would violate the GPL, but Blender Foundation has the option to license the code to other applications. I ran across that on Blender.org a couple of months ago.

    • tom

      “Using Blender code in other applications without a license would violate the GPL, but Blender Foundation has the option to license the code to other applications. I ran across that on Blender.org a couple of months ago.”

      Ton officially dropped that about half a year or so ago. He just hasn’t taken the time to remove it from all locations it was posted.

      LetterRip

    • http://blendernewbies.com Kernon

      @Robert
      You can definitely do that. I just did a couple of tests. You can also use images for that purpose. I haven’t tested it but, I would assume animated textures and videos MIGHT work as well.

    • SephirothTBM

      This features are awesome, I’ll try it immediatly.

      But I have a really great question, how can I download the videos?, ‘cuz the hair tutorial is great, and I would like to add it to my tutorials collection.

    • U-238

      Wow, that is truly awsome. It’s great to see such great programs like blender advancing like this. It almost makes me wish they’d slow down some so that I could grasp everything it has now. If I could do that I’ll bet I could really do some awsome things with it.

      But it’s like I say. 10 years from now the most used OS will be linux and the best 3d app out there will be blender!

    • http://www.myspace.com/5555785rizzo Chit

      That’s super dope!!! I’m sure many people will find that verry handy

    • IAN ROSS

      THIS IS GREAT! THANKS

    • Samuel

      To SephirothTBM:

      I did this way. I open the page, then I see the source of the page so this give me the swf file name. so, I copy the link, delete htm file name and put the swf file name instead. Then I download with flashget. :)

      well my english it’s not that, but I expect you get the idea.

      see ya

    • Joat

      Man, it’s cool. We will all get lost in hairyland once this is out.

    • http://www.sf-galere.net Kram1032

      Very good features! But I wasn’t able to find the place, where I have to place the .patch-file. The placement for all the others was clearly defined in the Wiki.

    • Tony

      Holy shiznit, this looks terrific. This is one of the features I’ve looked forward to most. Great work!

    • Robert

      @Kernon:

      Excellent! I’d always assumed that it was some sort of initial force, it being so close to the initial force texture option.

    • CasperN

      OMFG!!!!! This is super cool

    • SephirothTBM

      @Kernon

      Thanks for the tip man, I got the idea ;)

    • SephirothTBM

      Sorry for the anterior post I response to kernon but I got distracted I meant Samuel Sorry Samuel

    • mandoragon

      If blender is open source then surely other programs can take the source for this feature and adapt it to their own, or would that require them to make their programs free as well?

    • http://www.hamsterking.com JoOngle

      In a few words…

      …it’s one of my dreams coming true!!!!!!

    • Renato Perini

      Tom wrote:
      Code would be a pretty serious risk for them. There are tools that can be used for find misappropriated code even in binaries.

      LetterRip
      —————————————-

      Tom, can you tell me some of those tools?

    • http://www.sf-galere.net Kram1032

      No-one knows, where to put the .patch-file? How can you test it, if you don’t know???
      -.-

    • http://blendernewbies.com Kernon

      There is no special place where the patch needs to be installed. Simply extract it and run it. Patches are not full Blender installations, they are simply compiled versions of Blender with enough functionality to be able to use the features provided in the patch. For example, the Game Engine may not be part of the patch.

      I would suggest separating it from your main Blender install just to keep things clean.

    • http://www.lemnisine.com Daven

      Hell yeah!

    • http://www.sf-galere.net Kram1032

      Hmmm…
      Is there any special extractor?
      Or do I have to change the ending?
      ’cause, it’s not possible to extract it.
      Or just “open with” and then “winrar”?
      In Notepad there is just a ton of text…

    • http://blendernewbies.com Kernon

      The file is a compressed file in the RAR format. You can download 7zip or WinRAR to extract it.

    • http://blendernewbies.com Kernon

      Actually, the particles patch is in the ZIP format. Some patches are in the RAR format. I would recommend using 7zip because it can handle both formats.

    • http://www.sf-galere.net Kram1032

      …? I’ve got a file called ____.patch and I can’t click on it without getting the Window where I have to decide to open it with a file out of the list or if I want to search something out of the net.
      WinRAR also is able to handle both, isn’t it?
      Should I only give it into the blender-directory?
      (That’s what I did first, but then there haven’t been any changes -.-)

    • http://blendernewbies.com Kernon

      The patches are found on graphicall.org . I think you’re trying to download files from the link under Video #1. Use the link under Video #2.

    • http://www.sf-galere.net Kram1032

      Oh…. The Particlepatches from graphicall is allready installed…
      But what’s with that one from the wiki?
      Is it really the same?
      Looked almost equal, but only ALMOST…
      If they’re really equal, zhen, sorry…

    • http://www.primatestudios.com/ mmbenya

      This is absolutely amazing, awesome work!

    • RNS

      This new feature of Blender will be a memory eater as will the new features in the blender interface will required a good mother
      board and graphic card to handle the performances.

      I recommand AMD64 2.HZ or 64X2 up
      Asus 8v series up with 4gig or 8 gig
      graphic card FX 5500 or 6600N series
      Window 2000 or Millinium window are really good and linux,except XP it really suck!
      Don’t upload to many Blender pathes it can currupt your files.

      If you want to look good than dress to kill! or want to blend to impress than pumpup the power!

      RNS

    • Cloudsk!pper

      I would donate, if I could pay per “Pay by Call”. :)

    • http://none RNS

      It Came to my attention that the developer are working on
      Flex muscle script and vertices hightlight pointer which will
      show which vertices is most infuence and how to modify it by
      pressed key “B”.for amrature Rigging,and motion capture and 360 scan view screen interface using webscam!
      Also fluid and effects system will be change were the artist can choose rain,ocean wave,clouds,fire,fog,explosions and others goodies effects scripts library.

      Alot is to come in Blender this coming year and the nexts.

      Blender 2.50 in the summer.

      blender 2.60 in the winter.

      and Blender Hq edition in the summer of 2008.

      happy BLendering

    • grafixsuz

      Just testing and seems to be working well, just can’t lock the roots so that when I comb, the hair doesn’t fall off the sample head! Any ideas? I was re-watching the sample preview, and noticed it had a root lock feature, but this patch doesn’t have one,( or at least I can’t see it) Any info would be helpful. By the way I had one crash when making the parant threads, but couldn’t remake it, maybe just my system.

    • Cloudsk!pper

      @RNS
      Wow! That sounds cool. Is this really true ?

    • http://www.utopianqn.com.ar Utopia

      This is absolutely fantastic.
      Congratulations!

    • http://matshalldin.blogspot.com Mats Halldin

      Breathtaking and awesome. I just posted on BlenderArtists about hair

      http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=109592

      a tool like this was more than I could have hoped for. Anyone heard any news?

      / Mats

    • http://www.creaturefeature.info/ Ataru

      WOW. I am the worst hair styler on earth, so anything to make it easier is appreciated, but this is just too cool. Awesome, awesome work! And just when I needed good hair the most! :-)

    • Alexman

      Where is the builded patch on graphicall?