buffer question

[bobschm]

I have a minor issue with icicles.

My icicles are all 8 pixels long and rise up and down the eaves, so the buffer rectangle is behind the entire model from the bottom of the eave to the top. This works fine for most effects, like a pinwheel on the entire buffer.

But for text to travel up the eave and down the other side or for a chase around the perimeter, I had to build the model as a rectangular matrix. It's a minor issue, but whole house effects (like whole house bottom up curtain) will not line up perfectly when I bend this matrix up and down the roof line.

Is there a solution? Can the buffer follow the icicles up and down the eaves for text, but open up to the full size for other effects?

[Gilrock]

I would create 2 Icicle models.  One that goes up and another that comes down.  Then create a group that holds both of those models.  Try out all the different render styles to see if any of the render buffer layouts give the results you want.  If that doesn't work then create another model like the rectangular matrix you described.  Depending on the node ordering you need you may be able to use the built-in Matrix model or use a Custom Model and define exact ordering.  You will map this "proxy" matrix so that it overlays the same channels in the 2 Icicle models.  In the model properties unassign it from the preview.  With this method you can use the group when you want to do whole house effects or you use the proxy model when you want to scroll text.  You hid the proxy model so it won't show up in preview but since it overlays the same channels effects placed on it will show up on the icicle models.