I've always been frustrated by the fact that two dimensional projected patterns deform as they map over a given shape rather than respond intelligently to the geometry of the shape. What I wanted to do with Cloudform was to make a script that would map a geometrically consistent pattern on the surface of a complex form. It is simple in concept, harder in execution. After a bit of thought I realized the problem could be solved in a way similar to how faces are mapped in animation. By projecting a two dimensional pattern onto a topologically identical but flattened version of the form, then reassembling the form, the pattern actually folds with the form rather than distorts around it.
Bloom
This is a form produced using Bloom, a MEL script I’ve been writing that creates blossoming topologies in Maya. Download the Bloom MEL script.