TP Variation Texmap
thinkingParticles offers many tools to help you in setting up crowd
or massive object scenes in 3ds Max. Besides the TP
Multi/Sub-Object material that allows you to specifically define a
set of materials, which will be used on instanced characters or objects,
the TP Variation Texmap will allow you to add even more variation to the
textures and colors in a scene.
With TP Variation Textmap every single object in the scene will show a
different color in the rendering! Keep in mind that this texture map effect
can only be seen at render time and not in the viewport.
The texture map can be selected and assigned like any other standard 3ds
Max texture map. From the Material/Map Browser, choose TP Variation Texmap
to add it to any existing material slot.
The controls of the map are easy to understand, and in combination with
a texture map, many interesting effects can be achieved in no time at
all.
To make the TP Variation Texmap work as described, thinkingParticles
needs to supply the particle ID to the texture map. This is done through
the vertex color channel. Use the IDS-Vertex Color input of the Geometry
Instancer to supply the Particle ID for the TP Variation Texmap. Without
this information in the color channel, the TP Variation Texmap will
not work as described!
Example Setup to feed Particle ID into Vertex Channel
TP Variation Texmap Parameters
Color - sets the color that
will be used when there is no texture map available.
Map Slot - used to apply any available texture map form 3ds Max.
The texture map will be taken, and based on the various settings; it will
be automatically modified at render time for each single object.
Hue Variation % - sets the amount of variation of the Hue value.
Higher values will create a more random color variation.
Color Gradient - this gray
scale gradient controls the color angle (color wheel above) to be
used with the Hue variation - a black color equals to 0° and a pure
white color equals to 360° in a standard color wheel. The color bar,
right above the gray scale gradient, updates its status to represent
the current setting. Only those colors seen in the color preview will
be used for variation. This method is a perfect way to restrict random
colors to a subset of colors that you choose.
Saturation Variation % -
defines the amount of random variation for the Saturation value of the
color or texture map.
Color Gradient - this gray
scale gradient controls the color saturation to be used with the Saturation
variation - a black color equals 0 saturation and a pure white color
equals full saturated colors. The color bar, right above the gray
scale gradient, updates its status to represent the current setting.
Value Variation % - sets
the amount of random variation for the Value parameter of the color, or
texture map.
Color Gradient - this gray
scale gradient controls the color value to be used with the Value
variation - a black color equals 0 value and a pure white color equals
a full color value. The color bar, right above the gray scale gradient,
updates its status to represent the current setting.
Alpha Variation % - defines
the amount of random variation for the Alpha Channel value of the color
or texture map.
Color Gradient - this gray
scale gradient controls the alpha value to be used with the Alpha
variation - a black color equals a 100% transparent value and a pure
white color equals an opaque color value. The color bar, right above
the gray scale gradient, updates its status to represent the current
setting.
Random Seed - lets you set an individual Random Seed
number, to make sure, that no other TP Variation Texmap in the scene behaves
in the exactly same "random" way!
Color Gradient - when set to RGB mapping, this gradient works
as an added color filter at the very end, if all of the above color processing
has been performed. The resulting color is multiplied (RGB wise) by this
color value.
When HUE Spectrum is selected, the actual color is exchanged for the color
set forth in this gradient.