ErixEasyFootprints is a Blender add-on for generating procedural footprints and tracks from animated mesh objects. It uses the actual geometry of the source object to create contact-based impressions on surfaces such as sand, snow, mud, soil, and clay. A Geometry Nodes system with a Simulation Zone handles footprint generation and accumulation during animation, while controls for deformation, mounds, materials, and surface detail allow the resulting prints to be adjusted.
Key features:
• Mesh-Based Footprints: Generates footprints from any animated mesh, preserving the shape of sources such as shoe soles, paws, and wheels instead of creating generic impressions.
• Real-Time Accumulation: Uses a Geometry Nodes Simulation Zone to generate footprints when contact occurs and retain them on the surface as the animation progresses.
• Contact Detection: Uses Raycast and Geometry Proximity to reproduce the source mesh silhouette and determine contact with the surface.
• Deformation Controls: Provides adjustable footprint depth and contact accuracy for controlling the shape and strength of surface impressions.
• Smooth Footprint Edges: Softens footprint boundaries and surface deformation for more gradual transitions around each impression.
• Raised Mounds: Adds optional displaced material around footprints, with independent controls for mound height and radius.
• Material Controls: Works with a single original surface material while providing adjustable footprint color and darkness.
• Custom Footprint Textures: Supports custom textures for additional control over the appearance of generated footprints.
• Material Blending: Includes adjustable material spread and transparent edge gradients for blending footprint materials into the surrounding surface.
• Surface Detail Controls: Adjusts surface detail to balance footprint quality with scene performance.
• Three-Step Generation: Creates the procedural setup by selecting a surface, selecting the animated source object, and generating the footprints automatically.
