We’re excited to release the new lessons in the 100 series at learn.derivative.ca. Produced by Derivative and Sudo Magic and recorded by the one and only Matthew Ragan, this new series of short tutorial videos covers an introduction to working with POPs!
Point Operators, or POPs, represent the newest operator family in TouchDesigner, designed to handle 3D geometry and point data natively on accelerated GPU hardware. By merging the best features of SOPs, CHOPs, and TOPs, POPs deliver a highly parallelized, modern workflow for generative geometry. This new curriculum addition is a gateway to the new operator family and demystifying the power of GPU-based point manipulation.
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What's Inside the Update
Mirroring the hands-on approach of our 100 series, this update is packed with fully annotated networks and practical guides. Here is a breakdown of the new topics:
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Fundamentals of POPs: An overview of the core structure of POPs. We’ll go over how to understand the structure of data stored in POPs, how to view the data in DATs and CHOPs, along with some of the ways you might use new viewer features to better inspect the data in POP attributes..
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Using POP Attributes: Dive into handling standard attributes (like P and Tex) and common attributes (like PointScale and Weight). See how to add and modify attributes using nodes like the Attribute POP and Pattern POP.
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Understanding Math in POPs: Perform mathematical and logical operations on all points simultaneously without needing to convert your data to CHOPs. Explore the Math, Math Mix, and Math Combine POPs for operations ranging from simple addition to trigonometry and complex component combining.
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Working with Fields in POPs: Define spatial regions of influence using geometric shapes (like spheres or boxes) to calculate weight. Learn how to use these fields as 3D masks influence both individual points and surfaces.
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Working with the Noise POP: Use noise to add uniqueness to your POP networks, from scaling copies to displacing surfaces, we look at the fundamental concepts behind how to incorporate the Noise POP into networks.
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Working with the Feedback POP: Increment and accumulate data frame after frame to build organic, procedural effects like acceleration. Learn best practices for your simulation loops, and how to gracefully exit your simulation.
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Working with Color in POPs: Looking closely at color in POPs we’ll cover how to apply textures to surfaces, how to assign color to Points directly, and how to sample color from texture.
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Using the Copy POP: Rapidly generate 3D geometry either by specifying a set number of copies with cumulative transformations, or by placing copies at each point of a template. We also cover how templates can transfer attributes like color directly to your copies.
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Working with Lines & Line Metrics: Simplify line operations using the Line Smooth POP for resampling and the Line Break POP for dividing segments to create dashed lines. Master the Line Metrics POP to calculate spatial data between neighboring points like Tangent vectors (Tan), Curvature (Curv), and Direction to Next (DirNext)
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Importing 3D Data with the Point File In POP: Seamlessly load external 3D point cloud data directly into TouchDesigner. See how X, Y, and Z values automatically map to the P attribute and RGBA to Color—freeing you from the old TOP workflow limitations of mapping XYZ coordinates into 4-channel image formats
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Working with Particles in POPs: Discover the patterns for working with particle systems in POPs, transferring color, and applying forces.
TOX Example File, Using the Copy POP 
TOX Example File, Using the Copy POP
Downloadable Example TOX Files
As always, the TouchDesigner Curriculum is built to be modular. Every single topic in this update comes with a downloadable TOX file so you can immediately interact with the concepts. We encourage educators and students to use these materials, remix them, and integrate them into your own workflows and classrooms.
POPs open a wide range of new workflows in TouchDesigner, and we’re hoping that these materials will help support new and seasoned learners alike.
Happy Programming!
_Conjured by SudoMagic