how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

[m_haertel]

Hi,

I am sure someone can help me with my two questions. Beeing the only one with that problem shows me that there must be an easy way to actually solve it.
1) Bitmap textures for materials in architectural models are a nice thing, but when ever I tried to use them I had to have a lot of experiments until I had the right repeat factors for u and v direction. This is one thing but even worse is the fact that exactly the same number of repetitions is used for every object using this material (I usually set materials BY LAYER and do set the plug in material for the Layer). The only way to solve this strange effect I can think of is to have a seperate material (repeat setting) for every surface applied, but this can't be the right way!!! Even though I learnd a lot about material settings in Micha's UserTutorial it did not say anything about this in particular.
2) An other thing is also not quite clear for me: why does almost every kind of layer in the material editor has an additional transparency color? How to use this correctly? For example how to make a emissive layer transparent for a Rhino light sending additional light from behind?
Never having used a proper render program there are a lot of things to learn I guess and those will not stay my last questions somewere I have to start. So please, please let me know the answer or may be the link for a related tutorial?

Thanks MatthiasH

[Micha_cg]

how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

Hallo M.,

1) you can control the textures at two places - a) at the texture dialog of the material (simple control only) and b) at the rhino object properties -> mapping (called RCM tool of McNeel - good for object based mapping and special mapping types). In your case you can set the uv repeat at the texture options. So it works for all objects that use the material.

2) The layers of the materials are in order like layers of an onion. At the first place the outside layer. For special effects you use the transparency. For example you can create a dirt layer with transparency map and the next layer show the object color.

For example how to make a emissive layer transparent for a Rhino light sending additional light from behind?

Maybe you could explain what you want to create or post an image. Some times tricks works better. In your case you could set the light source in front of the emitter too. I have done this sometimes. But you can set the transparency at a low value, for example 10. Than you emitter looks quite solid, but light come trough.

PS: If you like to post images here than you can use for example the free image host service www.photobucket.com.

[craiggorton]

how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

But when you control the uv repeat, it depends on the surface. If I have a large floor, maybe it is a 2x2 point surface. If I apply the same material to a smaller floor (maybe a closet), also a 2x2 point surface, they will look different.

I raised this question a long time ago. In Flamingo, I can set the repeat based on model units. So all my floors are on one layer, material assigned by layer, and the thickness of the wood planks are all the same. The only thing I have to do is sometimes rotate the planar mapping.

I wish there was a way to do this in Vray (since I don't use Flamingo anymore.)

Craig

[bdcali_cg]

how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

Have you tried using the map size, rather than the UV coordinates, with repeat?
You should be able to set the map size based on a % of the image pixel size in Photoshop, that way, regardless of your surface size or shape, the image should look the same in all mapping instances.

Example:
I have 3 brick floors, all on the same layer. I set the material per layer. I select the brick objects, by "Select objects on Layer". I then go to the mapping RCM, click "Show Advanced UI" then add a planar mapping, which applies to the selected objects.


I can alter the map using the 'size' entry field in the Mapping RCM.
This way of doing things doesn't take into account the real world units, however it will allow you to set the mapping of all brick, stone, wood, etc. mats. in one pass. However I'm noticing on my machine that the mapping isn't changing in the Render viewport.
Final Image:

All mapping is the same size.

[craiggorton]

how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

Yes, that's the best way to do it. But now draw another surface (2 months later). You have to set its mapping to the same as the other ones.
And you have to run through the "sizing" routine on each new model, unless you insert objects from a previous file.
I know the result can be achieved, but I want it in as few steps as possible, because I'm lazy.

[Micha_cg]

how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

I suppose so for all RCM problems and suggestions we must talk with Andrew from McNeel, but my experience is, the support of the RCM is weak yet. I don't see any progress in the last months.

[joe_b]

how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

I suppose so for all RCM problems and suggestions we must talk with Andrew from McNeel, but my experience is, the support of the RCM is weak yet. I don't see any progress in the last months.

My guess is they will be much more receptive once Rh4 is released. RCM is under development and we only have it with our plugin because he was nice enough to let us use it. Rh4 will be the first real release of it I suppose.

As a side note - I'm thinking that we will be making it possible to just specify a width/height in scene units for textures directly in our texture editor. That way if you want a brick pattern to be 1'x1', regardless of the object its applied to, you can just set it once in the texture and not need to map everything. For more advanced things you will still be using RCM though.

[merlik585]

how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

That would be a HUGE improvement,and greatly appreciated here .

Renee

[Micha_cg]

how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

For me too.

[craiggorton]

how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

Yes- that's exactly what I'm looking for!

Thanks

[joe_b]

how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

Cool - well that just proves I need to do it

[m_haertel]

how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

Hey,
thank you so much for your vivid response to my questions. Especially the fact that our user concerns are obviously really taken into account gives me a really good feeling. I think this is the way to make a good product the best!!
To scale my textures I will try the way bdcali recommended but I am really looking forward to find an u/v scaling by world units. (That means I can use the same prepared material in models with different units and the material will always be shown in its preset size? Great!!)

Beeing so silly to post two questions in one topic, I will stop here and specify my question about TRANSPARENCY as a new topic again.
Thanks again.

[kinetic2]

how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

Joe, that would work well for me also, you know the trouble I have had with my textures

[joe_b]

how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

[abhikaam]

how to scale texture materials globally? Transparency?

I would love it!