Learning TouchDesigner

Course details

Used by studios around the world to create a wide range of experiential projects, TouchDesigner has become a standard platform of choice for projection mapping, interactive installation, and experiential content development. In this course, explore the real-time, procedural 3D and 2D graphics powerhouse that is TouchDesigner. Starting with the fundamentals, explore the TouchDesigner interface and get an overview of important nodes in each of the six TouchDesigner contexts. Through a series of project-based examples, look at real-time 2D image processing, real-time 3D scene rendering, real-time interactive control, and using TouchDesigner for VR. This course provides a starting point for any 2D or 3D artist wanting to expand their skillset in a rapidly growing field that ties into experiential design, interactive installation, and virtual reality.

Learning objectives
Navigating the TouchDesigner interface
TouchDesigner contexts—COMP, TOP, CHOP, SOP, MAT, and DAT
Building a network for real-time 2D image processing
Building a network with a real-time rendered 3D scene
Post-processing a real-time 3D with real-time 2D image processing
Importing images and video files
Importing assets with FBX files
Recording a 2D and 3D animation as movie files
Controlling a TouchDesigner network via an iPad or iPhone with TouchOSC
Using TouchDesigner for VR

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - How to use the exercise files

1. Fundamentals

03 - Interface overview
04 - Node basics - COMP
05 - Node basics - TOP
06 - Node basics - CHOP
07 - Node basics - SOP
08 - Node basics - MAT
09 - Node basics - DAT
10 - Modes and windows

2. 2D Imagery

11 - Animating static images with CHOPs
12 - Creating feedback setup
13 - Using the cache for time-offset animation
14 - Coloring and post-processing images
15 - Recording results as movie files

3. 3D Imagery

16 - Importing and viewing geometry
17 - Creating the render setup (light, camera, and top)
18 - Creating the PBR (physically based rendering) setup
19 - Organizing with containers
20 - Building the fps component
21 - Importing a full scene
22 - Making geopaths relative
23 - Building modular shaders
24 - Shader assignments
25 - Building an environment sphere
26 - Adding 2D animation to signage
27 - Building the sceneControl component
28 - Post-processing a 3D render
29 - Rendering results as movie files

4. User Interface (UI)

30 - UI process overview
31 - Building the UI - rotate
32 - Building a DAT table of camera positions
33 - Building the UI - camSwitcher
34 - Building the UI - geoToggle
35 - Building the UI - animationSwitcher
36 - Building the UI - record

5. Interactivity

37 - OSC (Open Sound Control) overview
38 - Building a TouchOSC layout
39 - Transferring the layout to iPad
40 - Building the control component
41 - Connect an OSC input to camSwitcher
42 - Connect an OSC input to animationSwitcher
43 - Connect an OSC input to rotate

6. Virtual Reality (VR)

44 - Building instance points
45 - Converting points to instance channels
46 - Component export
47 - VR template
48 - Viewing scene in VR with HTC Vive

Conclusion

49 - Next steps

Learning TouchDesigner

Authors

Scott Pagano