The BuddySystem

Is a free suite of Nuke tools & scripts, designed to assist with some of the most common tasks a compositor runs into everyday

I’ve designed this system over the years, based on my experiences as a comp supervisor and HOD working in Animation. Each one targets a fundamental task, and tries to make doing that task intuitive, fast, and easy enough for anyone to pickup, while still being flexible enough for more advanced users

Features

  • A shared design philosophy, which helps artists that learn to use one feature, quickly pick up the others

  • Easy to use at the base level, but also support advanced options for more involved tasks

  • Names are both descriptive and unique. Do you need to place a card in 3D? Use the CardBuddy! Can't remember the name of that tool? Tab search for "Buddy" and see the whole suite of tools

  • Quality of life features, that combine what would normally be done with many nodes, or multiple scripts, into one

  • Documentation outlining features, user tips and more

  • Scripts to boost pipeline and workflow

  • Calibratable per project/render env

  • Production tested

Download the full BuddySystem, including all the scripts & tools here!

Or scroll down to find the docs, install guide, version history, FAQ/Bug Reporter & more!

Quick Doc Links

NodeGraphBuddy

NodeGraphBuddy
MaskBuddy

MaskBuddy
DepthBuddy

DepthBuddy
CardBuddy

CardBuddy
ProjectionBuddy

ProjectionBuddy
ReflectionBuddy

ReflectionBuddy
AnimBuddy

AnimBuddy
More to come!

More to come!

About

NodeGraphBuddy

Designed to make working in the Node Graph faster, easer and generally more fun!

  • Manage Writes

  • Adjust Backdrops

  • Create Nodes

  • Have Fun!

Features

  • Scale Nodes

  • Align Nodes

  • Distribute Nodes

  • Mirror Nodes

MaskBuddy

Create multiple masks with Position/PRef & Normal data, with a variety of 3D shapes

  • 3D transform controls

  • Built in edge cleanup

  • Simplified AOV list

  • Calibration controls

Features

  • Multiple shapes at once

  • Preview image

  • Many shape types

  • Falloff options

DepthBuddy

Create 3D ramps in any direction with Depth/Z & Position/PRef data

  • Optional axis limits

  • Built in edge cleanup

  • Simplified AOV list

  • Calibration controls

Features

  • Preview image

  • Works for depth or pos

  • Falloff options

  • Transform controls

CardBuddy

Place 3D cards in world position & automatically generate holdouts

  • Point clouds

  • Other geo types

  • Simplified AOV list

  • Calibration controls

Features

  • Preview image

  • 2D to 3D placement

  • Holdout options

  • Camera projections

ProjectionBuddy

Project images into World Position/PRef to replace textures, screens or create complex masks

  • 3D transform controls

  • Built in edge cleanup

  • Simplified AOV list

  • Calibration controls

Features

  • Preview image

  • 2D to 3D placement

  • Masking options

  • Sticky projections

ReflectionBuddy

Project images into Normals/NRef to place eye pings, textures, or create stylized reflections

  • 3D transform controls

  • Built in edge cleanup

  • Simplified AOV list

  • Calibration controls

Features

  • Preview image

  • 2D to 3D placement

  • Masking options

  • Sticky projections

AnimBuddy

Generate animated curves based on Random, Sine, Sawtooth, and many other types of mathematical patterns

  • Mix Curves into Advanced ones

  • Find expression linked nodes

  • Make camera shakes

  • Drive random colours

Features

  • Multiple curves per node

  • Adjust curves easily

  • Many curve types

  • Animate in/out

Setup / Installation

Install

Compatibility

Nuke: 11.0 or higher

OS: Linux, Windows

For Personal Use

1) Download, extract and place the entire BuddySystem folder in your .nuke directory. This folder may be hidden, you can use the view options of your OS to unhide it

2) Add these two lines you your menu.py file. It should be in the same .nuke folder, but if it isn’t you can make a text file with the same name and .py file extension.

If your menu.py already has the line import nuke, you can ignore that one

import nuke

nuke.pluginAddPath('./BuddySystem')

3) Launch a new version of nuke and you will see the NodeGraphBuddy scripts in the BuddySystem icon on the tool bar

For Pipeline Use

Always speak with your studios pipeline support staff before trying to install anything. Every studio is different, but you’ll likely need to ask them to place the file into a central tool repository so everyone can access it

Modifying Hotkeys

If you don’t like the default hotkeys, or they conflict with ones you already have, you can modify them in the BuddySystems menu.py file. Look for the hotkeys near the end of each buddySystem.addCommand() line

Removing Scripts

If you already have a similar script, or don’t need one of them, you can comment that part out in the BuddySystems menu.py file.

Version History

  • Initial public release

Development Goals

To-Do

Below are some of the things I still would like to do, if time permits. If there is something you think would be a nice addition, feel free to reach out!

  • Add more scripts

  • Add more tools

  • Add more fun

Contributors

Thanks!

Below are some of the people who helped develop this tool through direct support or indirectly via online resources

  • Mark Rodziewicz

  • Sheldon Lisoy

  • Adam Dent

FAQ / Bug Reporter

Report A Bug

For issues/bugs please provide the following information