HOW TO DO THIS?: Animate ribbon along spline while using mCloth

[PIXELBOX_SRO]

Hi guys,

were working on a very short delivery project where we need to nicely animate ribbon around certain objects.
It need to be twisting and twirling around the spline while it needs to look like material/fabric - cant be just a stiff object.

We thought about two options:

1.
animate the ribbon along the spline and use animated noise modifier for all those extra tiny "waves" on the ribbon surface - this might end up as not much appealing solution

2.
animate the ribbon along the spline while using mcloth and MassFX - here were sort of lost because we cant find a way how to make the ribbon follow the spline while using the simulation
Basically we need the ribbon to follow a certain object but keep its trajectory while making usage of the cloth simulation automatically get all that nice fabric/ribbon behaviour.
I was thinking something like this:
https://vimeo.com/133329280
but using lets say 5cm wide and 2 meters long ribbon.

Does anyone have good experience with this?
Were on very short deadline and were still in the testing phase.
Would not mind paying for forking solution through a tutorial of some sort.

Thanks a lot for your helps and advice!

Cheers

M

[Morne]

How about a mixture of conforming and linking/path deforming the cloth to dummy/non render object. Then add the massFX and forces to the actual cloth. Animate the dummy/non render object along the spline?

[Morne]

Nevermind, the linking to dummy object doesnt work.

But what about linking 2 points on the cloth to a non MassFX object. then animate that object.
Basically your standard flag pole deal?

EDIT: Hmm looking at that animation example, maybe you could pull the cloth through a spiral tube of some sorts (static rigid body for the tube). Then dont render the tube

[AlexP]

That adidas video looks to me like they have path deformed some animated cloth.
Could you not just throw around some fabric in marvellous designer and then path deform?

[Morne]

My sim is running with pulling the cloth through the tube. Will post a screenshot when it's done...

[PIXELBOX_SRO]

That would be ace Morné!
I coudl send you my email and we can take this further if you want
Thanks for the inputs everyone!

[Morne]

...and in the tube she goes


That's all with defaults. Obviously you can change the size of your ribbon and the texture to be more silky etc...
Have fun!

[Raven]

In fact working on a project that does exactly that at the moment.
What I have done is 2 different setups depending on my needs.
1) Do a path deform. Then add cloth modifier on top. Create a group of the front vertices. Make it preserved. Make cloths air resistance 1.
2) Path constrain a dummy, Then with the cloth group link to node.

If I get a chance later I will post a test file.

[Raven]

Here is one of the tests I did a while back. Maybe it could help.

[Morne]

2) Path constrain a dummy, Then with the cloth group link to node.

Jip, this is the one I used.
So in a nutshell. Make a helix and copy it. Add a tube sweep on the one. Use the other as a path for a dummy non render object.
Link one or a couple of verts from your mcloth as a group, then node to the dummy. Add the tube as a static rigid body.

Adjust your cloth parameters for the type of cloth you want. Simulate
Done

Obviously it doesnt have to be a tube, can be any shaped thing or the tube can have fatter and thinner sections and you can also add other forces like wind etc...

[PIXELBOX_SRO]

OMG guys thanks a lot!!!

Morne:
your approach is great but for the project we have i need to have more control over the ribbon shape in section and the way it rotates

Raven:
this is EXACTLY what we need you nailed it! Woudl you mind me contacting you if we run into any issues?

Please let me know guys how can i reward you its been such a help cos we have no time for testing and developement
BIG THANKS!!

[Raven]

Hey Martin
I have been fighting with these for a while, so glad I could help.

Sure, drop me a line if you need, also pretty hectic at the moment so might not be immediately available.

[PIXELBOX_SRO]

hello Gavin, sent you a PM.