A way to extrude 2d text in The Foundry Nuke via Python

Question

I'd like to know if there's a way to turn Nuke's text (contained in Text node) into polygonal object and then extrude it along Z axis? It's possible in Blackmagic Fusion, it's even possible in Apple Motion 5. Who knows how to do it in Nuke via Python?

logoPlate = nuke.nodes.Text(name="forExtrusion") 
logoPlate['font'].setValue("~/Library/Fonts/Cuprum-Bold.ttf") 
logoPlate['xjustify'].setValue("center")
logoPlate['yjustify'].setValue("center")
logoPlate['box'].setValue([0,0,512,256])
logoPlate['translate'].setValue([-20, 50])
logoPlate['size'].setValue(48)
logoPlate['message'].setValue("TV Channel logo")
logoPlate.setInput(0,nuke.selectedNode())

I am not interested in using exported obj, fbx or abc from 3D packages or any third party plugins.

Answer 1

The only method to extrude a text at the moment (in NUKE version 10.5) is to trace a text logo with Polygon shape tool using ModelBuilder node.

modelBuilder = nuke.createNode('ModelBuilder')
camera = nuke.createNode('Camera2')
nuke.toNode('ModelBuilder1').setSelected(True)
nuke.toNode('Camera1').setSelected(True)
nuke.connectNodes(2, camera)
nukescripts.connect_selected_to_viewer(0)
n = nuke.toNode('ModelBuilder1')
k = n.knob('shape').setValue(6)   #'Polygon' tool in dropdown 'shape' menu
k.execute()

After tracing the logo I used Extrude from ModelBuilder's context menu and then baked out a geometry. But you can use only straight lines due to nature of polygonal modeling in NUKE.

No NURBS geometry.

script = nuke.thisNode()['bakeMenu'].value() 
eval(script)

Answer 2

Typically you would use a 3D modelling program like Modo, Maya, Cinema 4D, etc. Create and output your text as a model and import it into Nuke. To create 3D text directly in Nuke, you need the Geometry Tools plugin. Then simply use the PolyText node.

Documentation on PolyText

Download site for Geometry Tools