CGTalk - Help - Render to Texture

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FAT CAP

01-30-2003, 01:05 PM

I have been using MAX for a while now for low poly stuff and really want to get to grips with the render to texture function. DOes anybody know of any good tutorials or can they help with the following problem?

Specifically, in relation to a low-poly character, which has already had mapping co-ordinates applied - I want to know if it is possible to retain the original mapping co-ordinates, while using the render to texture function to output the shadows onto this map, so I can use the output file as a base map in Photoshop, which would show me the light and shadow areas when I go to paint my texture. BOy - that was on loooong sentance - I hope it makes sense to everybody!!!!

Every time I try to use the render to texture function, it adds the AUTOMATIC FLATTEN modifier to my object, and outputs a file with it's own UVWs layed out - which would be very hard to paint over in Photoshop. However, if I try turing the AUTOMATIC FLATTEN option off - the output file is blank.

Is what I am doing possible with this function, or is it just to be used with objects which have already had their maps painted and, only need additional shadow data baked on to them????

I hope someone out there can help - because I've been pulling my hair out for aaages trying to get this one figured out!!

:D

erilaz

01-30-2003, 11:18 PM

To put it simply, render-to-texture is baaaadly utilised.

Grab the BakersField script from http://www.chuggnut.com/ .

That man has made the perfect tool for your needs. It fixes all the render-to-texture probs, like using your original mapping instead of that auto-flatten bollocks.:D

Nahaz

01-30-2003, 11:51 PM

I've never had any problems with it. Keep in mind what you see it rendering is not what the final bitmap will look like.

If you want to retain your UVs, add an "Unwrap UWV" modifier to the stack and turn off the auto-map generation in the "render to textures" dialog window.

It's an incredibly powerful tool. You can for instance make UV changes to an existing bitmap. Similar to DeepUV's preserve bitmap, only much more reliable.

FAT CAP

02-10-2003, 12:16 PM

Aha - I've found out what the problem was - for some reason, if you turn off the automatic flatten option - the file outputs to channel 3 - I changed it back to channel 1 and it works fine... wish I'd found this earlier cos it could have saved a whole lot of premature hair loss!!!!

Thanks for your replys guys - I'll check out that plugin in a bit.:bounce:

RiotManZ

02-10-2003, 12:20 PM

... there should be a tutorial in the help section that comes with MAX. It´s located under new functions.
You should have it, or do you own an illegal copy:eek: :eek: :D

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