box 3 0-1 scale to blend mix amount

#1

Hi all and Johnny Random (if i am lucky enough :))

what i have is scaling z component of particles from 0-1 and want that value to pass on to blend material mix amount also, so from 0 lets say particles start blue and until reaching 1 goes red or whatever. I apply that material on a shape and got blend material mix value on attribute holder and then call it in box3 using “object parameters” but how to change this value is the problem.

have a look at max file 2015

thanks

#2

ok so i nailed it down somehow. what i did is z component value now goes in box 3 color red, green and blue so giving me 0-255 (black to white) and output it to vertex color channel then in material editor using vertex color as mix amount map.

…but what i want is bottom to top color change approach instead of seamlessly changing from one color to other so it should be gradient ramp but now i am thinking of how to drive gradient ramp middle needle value with z component scale value…any ideas?

#3

box 3 output standard ->mapping --> U component. Use a gradient ramp material. make sure to use a tiling of .99 for u and v to get rid of any bleeding issues.

range of 0 = 0 , 1 = 255 your particle should map between the two values of the gradient ramp.

#4

Or lucky enough to get Nico :smiley:

#5

yeaa, mapping was new to me and its better than vertex color, i tried but sadly the result is again soft transition from one color to other. is there any chance to drive gradient ramp middle point value with z component value? i hav attached picture n file to have a look

#6

…or more simple question is we can call parameter using “Object Parameter” but how to transform this value now using some value from box 3?

#7

I guess what is important is what you you want to drive the “blend softening” amount with?

I imagine you could drive a few mapping keys with a maxscript controller but you need to determine where your driving value is coming from.

We are definitely start to talk about jerry rigging something.

#8

yea actually, basically a hard edge between two colors so almost no blending, i did it by setting the gradient ramp map interpolation to “solid” and animating the middle point using wire parameters with box 3 scaler but wire parameters sometimes work sometimes not working. Strange!! um lookin into it btw…

#9

Script controllers and param wiring with pflow is serious voodoo. You must be very specific and very careful, save often. I have had setups perform flawlessly then bam one miss step and back to the last save point.