Shape to Points
Extracts the vertices of a shape as a point cloud. Zero-cost type conversion from ShapeData to PointsData.
Category: Points Menu path: Points > ShapeToPoints
Ports
| Port | Type | Direction | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
shape_in | shape | input | Shape to extract points from |
out | points | output | Point cloud containing the shape's vertices |
Parameters
None.
How It Works
ShapeToPoints reads the embedded PointsData from the input ShapeData and outputs it directly. This is a type conversion -- shape and points share the same underlying vertex storage, so no data is copied or transformed. All point positions, IDs, and attributes are preserved exactly as they exist in the source shape.
This node bridges the shape and points worlds. Shape ports and points ports are distinct types that cannot connect directly to each other. ShapeToPoints provides the explicit conversion from shape to points.
Usage Examples
Basic: Points from geometry
Circle -> ResampleShape (count: 24) -> ShapeToPoints -> DrawPoints. Convert a circle's vertices into a point cloud for visualization or further processing.
Advect shape vertices
Rectangle -> ResampleShape -> ShapeToPoints -> PointAdvect (field: Noise.vectorField) -> DrawPoints. Extract the rectangle's vertices as points, then advect them through a noise field. The points scatter outward from their original positions over time.
Shape vertices as clone targets
Circle -> ResampleShape (count: 12) -> ShapeToPoints -> CloneToPoints (shape: small Rectangle). Place instances of a small rectangle at each vertex of a circle.
Tips
- Resample the shape upstream if you need more points -- a raw Rectangle only has 4 vertices
- Points and shapes are distinct types in Caddis. You cannot connect a shape output to a points input directly -- use ShapeToPoints for explicit conversion.
- The reverse conversion (points to shape) is not available as a dedicated node -- use CloneToPoints to instance shapes at point positions instead
- Attributes set by ShapeAttributes upstream are carried through to the point cloud
Related Nodes
- ResampleShape -- add more vertices before extracting points
- CloneToPoints -- instance shapes at point positions (often used after ShapeToPoints)
- DrawPoints -- rasterize the extracted point cloud
- PointAdvect -- move extracted points through a vector field
- Grid -- alternative point source (regular grid instead of shape vertices)