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SplineSPREAD 1.1 contains several new features and changes. Here's a list of the most important ones:
Using the new Blend function, you can mix splines with each other. This way you can now change one alphametic character into another, and do more interesting things. Blending can be applied manually using a slider, or automatically by using the spline offset and a spline curve.
You can now select the spline segment SplineSPREAD should work with. This enables you to use unconverted (parametric) Text splines, and provide each spline segment with the ideal clone count and settings by using separate SplineSPREAD objects for each segment.
This effect - in conjunction with the new Attractor object - offers new interesting possibilities to influence the behaviour of clones by applying repulsion or attraction. This way you can create even better behaviours for swarm-like simulations.
With this special XPresso node you can selectively access the data of particular clones, enabling you not only to attach additional (not SplineSPREAD-controlled) objects to the clones, but also to invoke SplineSPREAD into ThinkingParticles setups!
The improved SplineSPREAD shader offers additional data sources and a more precise control using a spline curve.
The Scatter effect now offers moving noise. This results in a nice random movement which can come in handy when simulation swarms of insects.
Another new option places the clones in a randomly varying line (in other words: it lets the clones go in single file). This also makes sense e.g. for simulating the flocking behaviour of some species of bird.
The Surface effect now allows the Formula effect to be applied after the projection. Now even balls projected onto a geometry can jump using a formula.
In addition to this, there is the new projection mode "Spherical", which performs a non-parallel projection. Using it, you can e.g. coil a helix around a sphere, for which complex flight paths of meteoroids around planets are not the only application.
The Tangential alignment is now stable on vertical splines (splines, the go exactly into +Y direction). In many cases you will not need a Rail Spline anymore.
Last but not least there is the new option "Along trajectory" which aligns the clones to their actual direction of travel, which may be altered by effects (like Statter) or by an animated spline. Another step towards the better faked swarm simulation.
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