Maya particle trouble

[svenip]

this is something strange that i've encountered now :D

you're right the simple method (just assign a shader with a texture which includes an alpha channel doesn't have any effect)

but if you go further it will work. i've done tthis one.

simply duplicate your file 5 times so you have 5 texture files with all the same texture (don't forget the alpha).

then assign the first one of the files (the filename must be this : filename.number e.g. snow.1, snow.2 aso)
then check "use frameextension". and swith on use hardware texture cycling. set the end to 5.

now got to the first frame and key the frame extension on the filetexture and 4 frames ahead key the frame extension with the value of 5.

voila, we have transparency.

please don't ask me WHY ? i really don't know yet, but would like to get the answer.

but there is always a workaround in maya :thumbsup:

[bigfatMELon]

I have no idea why keying the file to be a multiframe source would having any affect but...

The reason why you aren't seeing any alpha is dead simple: it's not hooked up. By default, Maya only makes a connection between the RGB channels. So, colorOut only includes the RGB triple float data and no fourth channel. To fix this, simply connect the alphaOut from the file node to whatever source makes sence for the situation (usually transparency).

Bugs not withstanding, that should do'er in every situation.

-jl

[Dave Hackett]

New user to Maya here. Wanna try that again in english? Thanks for the help.
Dave

[svenip]

now a really strange thing happens to me. i just connected the file to the color and it works for transparency !!! without connecting the outalpha to transparency.

that's what they do normally, what they should do. but it didn't worked out correctly last time .

now i need to meditate about that :D :D :D:hmm:

[bigfatMELon]

Well, that wasn't exact swahili now, was it?

If you are familiar with making connections via the connection editor or via right clicking on nodes within the Hypergraph editor, then you have probably seen the terms "colorOut" and "alphaOut" before. If not, then you need to spend some time learning about that stuff before you'll get much further.

As is stands, you have a node that contains the texture source. This is a fileNode. It has two outputs of interest to your situation: 1) colorOut and 2) alphaOut. ColorOut is actually 3 separate channels (RGB) of information that can appear as a single output from the file node. Alpha out is a single channel output. The term "float" refers to the type of data that gets piped through these outputs.

I am alleging that you have no connection between the alpha channel of your file node and the material's transparency attribute and that this connection needs to be made. This is where the connection editor and/or right clicking within Hypershade comes in.

-jl

[CGTalk Moderation]

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.