Bug? VRayTriplanarTex reacting to UVW coordinates

[Art48]

Hi,
Is this intended behaviour? I use VRayTriplanarTex excessively and right now by accident I noticed that if there is a UVW Map modifier in the stack active, it takes mapping coordinates from that modifier. The size parameter etc all still works but in my opinion the purpose of the VRayTriplanarTex is to...well project in its own way and not rely on UVWs.

And also (this is another "issue") I get artifacts when blending normal maps via VRayTriplanarTex on the edges. Does anyone know a way around that without having to unwrap?

[vlado]

Can you post scene examples for both issues? Also, which V-Ray version? We fixed a few things for V-Ray 3.5

Best regards,
Vlado

[Art48]

Hey Vlado - sorry for the late reply, much work to do :P

Here is an archive with the max file.
VRayTriplanarTex_Bug.zip

To reproduce:
1) Open file and render the camera viewport (it looks wrong, but basically it is what I expect the VRayTriplanarTex to do.)
2) Enable the "UVW Map" Modifier on the "hood" geometry object and render again. Different result.

3ds max 2016 SP4
VRay 3.40.03

[Art48]

Could you guys reproduce it yet?

[vlado]

Yes, I can reproduce it, however it is expected if you wire things this way. The VRayNormalMap assumes the normals are with respect to a certain mapping channel (that's why you have the "map_channel" parameter there) and this is why the "UVW Map" modifier affects the result.

Things will work correctly if you do it the other way round - i.e. put the VRayNormalMap inside the VRayTriplanarTex texture. Then the VRayTriplanarTex texture has a chance to modify the UVW coordinates that the VRayNormalMap will later use to compute the normal.

Best regards,
Vlado

[vlado]

What I mean is that the textures should be wired in this way:



Best regards,
Vlado

[Ihno]

Good to know, Thanks!

[Art48]

Ah, I see, interesting. Thank you for the explanation!