V-Ray Blend Material induced dyslexia

V-Ray for 3ds Max V-Ray for 3ds Max :: Requests
1

Hello,

We are all so familiar with Photoshop. In many ways its one of the basic languages CG artists seek. Its so influential that almost all software that requires layering will closely mimic Photoshop.

It is in my opinion that the V-Ray Blend Material is not ordered correctly.

It activates my dyslexia

May you please reorder the VRay Blend Material so that the Base is at the bottom and layers are stacked on top?

This would make it less confusing. I have even used blend materials for a while and there are times when I make mistakes because almost all software that uses layers have the base at the bottom and the layers are added on top. Like this ---->

Top of Stack
-------------
Layer 3
Layer 2
Layer 1
Base Texture
-------------------
Bottom of stack

Blend downwards

|
            |
            V

Thansk
Steve ~

2

I have e the same problem.

But I guess, lots of people will now be used to V-ray BlendMtl being “backwards” so changing it would maybe create a bigger problem for more people.

3

I think you 100% right. It would cause this problem with experienced artist.

I think artists who are new to V-Ray will find it a little odd but something to get used to.

I sometimes get a little confused still.

Its like suddenly having to count backward by 7s from 100. You can do it but its a little odd.

4

Just add a switch in the material so have it either way :wink:

5

that would be awesome to be able to reverse the stack!

6

Yes, that’s the best idea - for those of us who think like Photoshop, we would like an option to have the stack in the ‘correct’ order.

7

Umh, it would just mean reordering the UI.
I have no idea if it’ll get done, but if you can live with a scripted plugin material (not having it when reopening the scene should just revert back to the standard blend UI), i may be able to script you one quickly enough.

8

Hi LeLe,
thanks for that, I think if this was to be implemented it should be more official than a UI the plugin.

Thanks for the offer though :slight_smile:

P.S - this new UI for the forums is really great.

9

I would owe you a few rounds of your favorite beverage if you manage to put something together. :slight_smile:

10

Bah! I never saw the reply, new forum settings and all (which *I* clearly got wrong…).
On it.

11

https://github.com/EmanueleLecchi/Lele-s-V-Ray-MaxScript-Tools/tree/Release/reverseBlendMaterial

Run the script, it’ll create the Plugin Material (it ought to go into the “V-Ray” category, but with nightlies it goes into the “V-Ray_Adv_version####” one.), named “VrayRBlendMtl” (R for Reverse, ofc.).
You’ll always be able to pull the latest version from the same place.

Have fun, let me know if it does what you’d like.

p.s.: this will *not* behave properly if the plugin isn’t present on scene load (put the script into your scripts startup folder, per seat/slave/node!), and there is unfortunately nothing i can do about it from the scripting side (i *have* to create a new class of shader, much like a .dlm: if that was removed from the startup folder, it wouldn’t find the new class and error out, leaving you with an empty shader slot.).

UI.png
UI.png375×821 56.8 KB

12

**EDIT** Im getting a 404 error when trying to click on the link above…

Thats awesome Lele, it will be a couple days before I can try it out but excited to do so!! :slight_smile:

13

Try this (while i get my git settings right…).
Sorry for the bother.
reverseBlendMaterial.zip (1.48 KB)

14

No need to be sorry my friend, TYVM for taking the time to build this. The download worked great and now I cant wait to try it!! :slight_smile:

15

Thanks Lele - I think some people are interested in testing this. Do you need to have a nightly build to test it?

16

Why, did it error out for you?
I do not think it needs anything else than a V-Ray version with the blend material in it. :slight_smile:

17

How do I use it? Do I run it fron the scripts dir? Do I need to put it in the startup scripts? sorry Lele

18

No, my fault entirely, Steve, for not adding a simple readme to the file.

The best way is to copy the script into the 3dsMax scripts\startup folder (f.e.: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2018\scripts\Startup\).
The material will be then available to be picked from all the usual places.

There is one caveat: the script has to be present in the startup folder of any max which tries to open a scene with the material in it. If it isn’t present, a scene load error will come up (so no risk of rendering away sequences without shaders assigned.).
Consider the script, to all intents and purposes, just like any other third-party plugin: it needs to travel with the scene that uses it.

19

Awww man it looks so much better this way! hahaha I love it.

Its a shame that this feature is not native to VRay, I like it a lot.

Thank Lele :slight_smile:

Steve ~