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= Proxy Deform =

#type: node
#context: sop
#icon: SOP/pointdeform

""" This node allows for proxy deforming a static geometery based on a moving geometry """

The Proxy Deform SOP deforms geometry according to a point cloud. The point cloud can have connectivity information. Connected points are used to deduce local transforms, allowing accurate transformation of rotating objects.  This avoids the collapsing that can occur with
the Lattice SOP's point mode when the transformation mesh rotates.

NOTE:
    The connectivity between the rest and deformed lattice should be the same.  Changing primitive counts or topology will confuse the system.



@inputs
    IN Geo to deform:
        Static geometry that needs to be deformed

    IN deforming geo:
        Animated geo as reference for deformation

@parameters

Frame:
    Reference frame of the beginning of animation

Mode:
    Instead of separating the capturing and deformation into separate
    SOPs, both operations are available with this SOP.  Setting
    to Capture mode will output the capture weight information, which
    can then be applied with a successive Point Deform set to Deform mode.

    Alternatively, the Capture and Deform does both operations at once.

    There is no inherent speed advantage to using one SOPs or two SOPs,
    the choice should be dictated by workflow.

== Capture ==

Radius:
    The maximum distance (in Houdini units) away from each point to look for points in the deforming point cloud.
    A simple Elendt metaball weighting is then applied based on the relative distance.

Minimum Points:
        If fewer points than this are found, the search radius is
        increased to find at least this number of points.  This will
        cause discontinuities in final mesh, but is often preferable to
        having points being orphaned.

Maximum Points:
        Provides an upper bound to the number of points that any particular
        point can be weighted by.  Speeds up application and reduces memory
        use, but will create discontinuities if hit.

== Deform ==
Rigid Projection:
        The computed local transform can have shear components.  This projects
        out those leaving only a rigid transform.
    Recompute Affected Normals:
        Recomputes any normals that are affected by polygons that use both
        transformed and untransformed points. When transforming the full
        geometry or full connected components, the results should be the same
        as when this option is off, i.e. the normals will just be transformed
        and not recomputed. This does nothing if `P` is not being transformed.

Attributes to Transform:
        Point and Vertex attributes that match this pattern will be
        transformed.  Their Type Info will be used to determine how
        they should transform, as points, vectors, and normals
        all need different operations.

        If `P` matches this string, then primitive transforms will
        also be rotated.

        NOTE:
            `P` is always deformed, regardless of this setting.