Devlog #2 - Current Features
Let's take a look at some of the current features settled on in preparation for a V1 public release!
Current Features
Procedural Generation - Full heads of low-poly locs or kinky strands generated in seconds, no manual modelling required!
One & Two Strand Settings - You can decide between one strand generation or two strand twists for more definitive styles
Full Strand Customisation - From roots to tips, I have implemented refined customisation to strands, so that users have full control over how the hair looks and behaves!
Adjustable tip length, zone, and coil for customizable strand endings
Natural root spread and regrowth effect for a more organic scalp appearance
Snap Roots, Symmetry & Seeding - Quality of life features that will make the creative flow easier and produce unique styles without spending hours adjusting by hand!
Gravity & Droop Control - Simulate natural weight and fall of locs and strands.
Convert to Mesh & Auto-UV - Converting the strands to mesh and generating a clean UV is all fully automated! No time spent figuring out how to get your textures onto the strands.
Physics & Collision Support - Built-in rigging and cloth simulation support for dynamic, movement-responsive hair.
Preset Library - Loc Knots, Kinky Twists, Thick Locs - OH MYY! There's ready-to-use style presets to speed up your workflow.
What's Coming
V1 Release / IP and Patent Positioning - Before I release any version of the tool publicly, I want to make sure I can protect myself (because we know the world loves to the steal black creativity 😬🙃). I have a meeting with an IP lawyer this week to discuss my rights.
Braid & Loc Texture Update - Currently, I've been using a general kinky texture to overlay the strand, but I will be updating the base texture selection to include proper loc and braid textures.
Style Library (Ready Made Styles) - There have been a ton of questions and requests regarding ready made styles, so I will be creating a selection of base styles that just require the user to apply them to the head of the character.
Custom Parting Generator - I've been playing around with a custom parting placement generator to give users a guide on where they're placing strands. More to come on this!
Accessory Generator - The ability to add and place accessory onto strands, such as clasps, cowries, beads etc.
What's Not Working
Two Strand Root Separation - Too complex for me at the moment, as the raycast and spread at the root are conflicting with each other, but I am hopeful I'll get it working properly!
Built In vs. Custom Draw Tool - The beauty of using Blender is that it is an open source software with a ton of amazing features built in, but the reality is there are some features that will be required to be built from scratch due to the complexity of what I'm building with this hair tool! So, I'm tossing up between a custom draw or using Blender's draw curve, which has proved to be a bit unstable for some of the features I'm building in.
What are your thoughts on our current build!
Drop some questions for the next Q&A!
Thank you for your support!
Dani 💛✨