Welcome to the Recipes & Projects module! This is where we put theory into practice. These tutorials combine techniques from all previous chapters into functional networks you can use in live shows, installations, or as starting points for your own experiments.
(y-1) Fundamentals
Perfect for your first hour in TouchDesigner. Focus on the core UI and basic operator families.
- (y-) Basic VJ Mixer: Learn how to build a 2-channel crossfader. Covers the most important skill in TD: Binding.
- (y-) Audio Reactive Geometry: A classic project. Turn sound into numbers and use Instancing to drive 3D shapes.
- (y-) Chromatic Aberration Feedback: The “Okamirufu” signature. A simple post-processing trick using time-delayed caching.
- (y-) Particle System with POPs: Your first look at POPs (Point Operators) for GPU-accelerated particles.
(y-2) Intermediate
Requires a basic understanding of how data flows between TOPs, CHOPs, and SOPs.
Audio & Visuals
- (y-) Real-time Audio Visualizer with FFT: A professional version of the audio reactive recipe focusing on frequency analysis.
- (y-) GLSL Feedback Effect: Your first dip into GLSL (Shaders). Create hypnotic trails and zooms that respond to music.
- (y-) 5 Ways To Make Particles: A comparison of every way to make particles in TD. Great for choosing the right tool.
- (y-) Fluid Text Morphing: Liquid text effects bridging the 2D TOP world into 3D points that melt and dissolve.
3D & Rendering
- (y-) Instanced 3D Models with PBR: Learn how to use high-quality PBR Materials with thousands of 3D models.
- (y-) Organic Amoeba: Create a “living,” pulsating point cloud using Noise POPs and iridescent position-to-color mapping.
- (y-) Biomechanical Metallic Spines: Parametric vertebral structures using Revolve POPs and high-metallic shaders.
Tracking Basics
- (y-) MediaPipe Face Tracking: Real-time expression detection (smiling, blinking) to drive visuals.
- (y-) MediaPipe Pose Tracking: Full body skeleton tracking for driving 2D/3D avatars.
(y-3) Advanced
Deep dives into fluid dynamics, motion tracking, and complex math.
Physics & Simulation
- (y-) GPU Fluid Simulation: A complex TOP-based feedback system for smoke and liquid dynamics.
- (y-) Dreamscape Particle Cloud: A stylized, glowing particle system with recursive feedback-based bloom.
- (y-) Vector Field Instancing: Millions of points following swirling vortex paths driven by a 3D vector noise grid.
Motion Tracking & Interaction
- (y-) ★ Complete Hand Tracking Walkthrough: Setup → core rig → watercolor brush → generative architecture.
- (y-) MediaPipe Hand Tracking Advanced: Multi-hand tracking, complex gesture recognition, and interaction systems.
- (y-) Motion History & Optical Flow: Track movement from a simple webcam without expensive sensors.
Math & Fractals
- (y-) 3D Sierpinski Tetrahedron: Fractal geometry controlled by hand orientation and pinch-zoom.
- (y-) ★ Hand-Tracked Chaotic Attractor: A math-heavy project using Script CHOPs to drive a Lorenz attractor with hand data.