Merge pull request #178 from ynput/Maya-Arnold-update-standins

Maya: updated Arnold user docs

website/docs/addon_maya_arnold_artist.md

@@ -11,44 +11,82 @@ import versions from '@site/docs/assets/json/Ayon_addons_version.json'
 {versions.Maya_Badge}
 </ReactMarkdown>
 
+You are able to create two types of **Arnold Scene Source** product
+
+- Arnold Scene Source
+- Arnold Scene Source Proxy
+
+![Publish instance types](assets/maya/artist/ass_publish_types.png)
+
 ## Arnold Scene Source (.ass)
-Arnold Scene Source can be published as a single file or a sequence of files, determined by the frame range.
+**Arnold Scene Source** contains whatever user selects when creating the publish instance. Arnold Scene Source can be published as a single file or a sequence of files and its determined by the frame range set on the publish instance. Use those values for producing still or animated `standin`.
+
+![Publish instance framerange](assets/maya/artist/ass_publish_framerange.png)
+
+### Arnold Scene Source Proxy
+The main difference of this product type being possibility to use proxy geometries for viewport performance reasons. If this is not an issue use the first standin type instead.
+Once the publish instance have been created, there is a `proxy_SET` created inside of the `Main_SET`. Meshes assigned to the `proxy_SET` will be the viewport representation of the `standin`. Once render triggered, they are switched for the content of the `Main_SET` on the fly.
+In order to utilize operators and proxies on the `standin`, the content and proxy nodes need to share the same names (including the shape names
+and cbIDs).
+
+:::note 
+You can duplicate content keeping all its attributes using maya `Group` for objects used in `Main_SET` and `proxy_SET` each being in distinct `Group` as maya does not allow having the same objects within the same hierarchy.
+:::
+
+![Ass Proxy Sets](assets/maya/artist/ass_proxy_sets.gif)
+
+Here you can see we are having `Content_GRP` for renderable objects and `Proxy_GRP` for viewable objects in the maya viewport. Each having the same objects inside as duplicates differing only by level of detail. Note that offset of `Proxy` objects is just for sake of clarity and normally would be in the exact same location as high detail meshes for rendering aka `Content_GRP`.
+
+:::note 
+Use **Arnold Scene Source** product instead as there are not so many requirements / constraints when creating it if viewport performance not an issue.
+:::
+
+### Validation of the Arnold Scene Source publishes
 
-When creating the instance, two objectsets are created; `content` and `proxy`. Meshes in the `proxy` objectset will be the viewport representation when loading as `standin`.
+After triggering publishing via Publisher a round of different validation checks being triggered informing user if anything setup wrong and offering set of `Repair` actions to fix those issues.
 
-### Arnold Scene Source Proxy Workflow
-`AssMain` set is  created with `assMain_content_SET` and `assMain_proxy_SET` as its children.
-In order to utilize operators and proxies, the content and proxy nodes need to share the same names (including the shape names
-and CBIDs). This is done by parenting the content and proxy nodes into separate groups. For example:
+Most common `Validator` is for checking proper asset hierarchy. Just by following the report you are able to adjust your scene hierarchy to match the desired one.
 
-![Arnold Scene Source](assets/maya/artist/arnold_scene_source.png)
+Here is an example of wrong hierarchy set as the model `Groups` assigned to the `standin` being children of the World and no such a hierarchy being allowed so need to be adjusted properly.
 
-Once you put geometry contents(grouped objects) and proxy groups respectively into contents and proxies set,
-you are ready to see if it passes validation and gets published.
+![Ass Validator Hierarchy](assets/maya/artist/ass_validator_hierarchy.png)
 
-Besides the grouped contents and proxies, you can put meshes and proxies into contents and proxies set.
-It would pass validation too and gets published.
+And the invalid hierarchy seen in the Maya Outliner
 
-![Mesh Objects for contents and proxies sets](assets/maya/artist/creator_sets.png)
+![Ass Validator Hierarchy 2](assets/maya/artist/ass_validator_hierarchy2.png)
 
-Validators `ASS has relative texture paths` and `Validate Arnold Scene Source CBID` can allow you to set up
-the context correctly by using repair function.
+Instead of having the `Content_GRP` and `Proxy_GRP` in the `standin` sets, you should put in the actual `objects` geometries instead to fix this validation failure. As seen below the correct one:
+
+![Ass Validator Hierarchy 3](assets/maya/artist/ass_validator_hierarchy3.png)
+
+
+Validators `ASS has relative texture paths` and `Validate Arnold Scene Source cbID` allows you to set up
+the context correctly by using `Repair` action.
 
 ![Arnold Scene Source Validators](assets/maya/artist/validators_ass_family.png)
 
-Once you pass the validator, you can publish your contents and proxies.
-## Standin
-Arnold Scene Source `ass` and Alembic `abc` are supported to load as standins.
-When you load `ass` when the loaders, it will import two `ass` groups with standins as children.
-Both standins load `_proxy` ass files by default, and you can choose to change the `content`
-manually by clicking file icon in the standin and change the files with `_proxy` naming conventions.
+Once all `Validators` being resolved you are ready to publish the `Arnold Scene Source` aka `Standin` product with the `.ass` representation being ready to be loaded using `Loader` tool located in the `Ayon toolset`. 
+
+## Using Standins
+
+You can use published `standin` in your workfile via `AYON / Load` action. User is able to load `Arnold Scene Source` , `Arnold Scene Source Proxy` and even `Alembic` products as `standin` allowing taking advantage of arnold features also for other products like `animation` and `pointcache`.
+
+![Arnold Scene Source Loaders](assets/maya/artist/ass_loader.gif)
 
-![Arnold Scene Source Loaders](assets/maya/artist/ass_loader.png)
+:::note Arnold Standins
+You can highly optimize your workfiles by introducing `standins` instead of regular reference loading of products like `animation` as there wont be any files referenced-in just local `standin` but still managable using `Scene Inventory`.
+:::
+
+## Standins and LookDev
+`Standin` supports `look` products and its assignment. If `look` product being available, You can assign the `look` to the loaded Arnold Scene Source `ass` and Alembic `abc` using 
+
+`AYON -> Look Assigner...`
 
-## Look Development
-Standin Nodes are now supported for look assignment.If you publish the look development object with the look family, while you publish the object with Arnold Scene Source. You can assign the look to the published Arnold Scene Source `ass` and Alembic `abc` through `AYON -> Look Assigner...` when you load it as standin.
+:::note Current Standins Limitation
+`Look` assignment is not possible when using `Arnold Scene Source Proxy`
+:::
 
-![Arnold Standin](assets/maya/artist/ass_look_assigner.png)
+![Standin Look Assign](assets/maya/artist/ass_look_assign.gif)
 
 :::note Limited support for shader assignments with standin nodes
 Limited amount of attributes supported by using operator to assign shaders to the loaded standins.
@@ -76,14 +114,11 @@ aiSubdivIterations
 ```
 :::
 
-### Standin Proxy Workflow
-If a product has a proxy representation, this will be used as display in the viewport. At render time the standin path will be replaced using the recommended string replacement workflow;
+### Arnold Scene Source Proxy
+If a product has a `proxy_SET` representation, this will be used as display in the viewport. At render time the standin path will be replaced using the recommended string replacement workflow:
 
 https://help.autodesk.com/view/ARNOL/ENU/?guid=arnold_for_maya_operators_am_Updating_procedural_file_paths_with_string_replace_html
 
-Since the content and proxy nodes share the same names and hierarchy, any manually shader assignments will be shared.
-
-
 :::note for advanced users
 You can stop the proxy swapping by disabling the string replacement operator found in the container.
 ![Arnold Standin](assets/maya/artist/arnold_standin.png)