Introduction to Attractor Points

Tutorial by Vanessa Abin-Fuentes

(abinf002@umn.edu)

This tutorial will explain through Scalar and Vector Mathematics how a grid of circles can be scaled according to the distance from the center of the circle to a point.

Step 1: Create a grid of Circles

Choose the point XYZ component. Vector tab> Points > XYZ point.

Choose 2 series components. Sets> Sequence> Series.

Attach one Series to the x component of the XYZ Point and the other to the Y component.

This will create 10 points displayed diagonally. In order to make it a grid of points, you must right-click the XYZ Point component and choose Cross reference.

Choose the CNR Cirlce Component. Curve> Primitive> CNR Circle

Attach the grid of Points to the "Center of circle"

Step 2: Set a Point

Choose a Point parameter. Params> Geometry> Point.

Draw a point in Rhino and right click the Point parameter and choose "Select one Point".

This will minimize Grasshopper and allow you to select the point in rhino. Once Succesfully selected, the point (in Rhino) will have a red x on it and the point Parameter ( in Grasshopper) will appear gray.

Step 3: Make an Attractor Point

Choose a Distance Component. Vector> Point> Distance

Attach the point parameter to "Point A" and the Grid of points to "Point B". Next attach the Distance output to the "Radius" of the circle.

As you can see the scale of the circles are out of proportion. In order to fix this you must divide the output of the Distance by a certain number to scale down the circles to the correct size

Once the distance has been divided through a Slider, you are capable of altering the radius to fit the scale of the grid.