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mesh_converter_generator [2020/12/16 14:53] – windsor | mesh_converter_generator [2023/04/19 10:44] (current) – steph.jorgensen | ||
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- | ====== Mesh Converter Generator | + | ====== Mesh converter generator |
- | The Mesh Converter | + | {{: |
- | The process is detailed in [[pg_meshconverter|this section]], but the general workflow is as follows: | + | \\ |
- | - Add a Mesh generator to the scene | + | \\ |
- | | + | |
- | | + | The process is detailed in [[pg_meshconverter|this section]], but the general workflow is as follows: |
- | | + | * |
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+ | | ||
+ | | ||
+ | | ||
- | >**Note:** Select a marker, hold down " | + | **Note:** Select a marker, hold down " |
===== Generation ===== | ===== Generation ===== | ||
- | Unlike most generators, | + | Mesh converters |
===== Region ===== | ===== Region ===== | ||
The properties in this group control which material/ | The properties in this group control which material/ | ||
- | == Clearance == | + | ==== Clearance |
- | Sets the effective radius for the map extractions and conversions. | + | Set the effective radius for the map extractions and conversions. Only polygons that fall within the radius will be considered. This value is visualized by the pink surrounding cylinder in the Tree Window. The radius should be large enough to encapsulate all of the polygons of interest but not so large as to include parts of the mesh that are undesirable. |
- | == V scale == | + | ==== V scale ==== |
- | This generator uses several geometry features to compute the extracted map set's aspect ratio. | + | This generator uses several geometry features to compute the extracted map set's aspect ratio. Use this value to stretch the result vertically. You should see the preview image adjust as you edit this value. |
- | == Mode == | + | ==== Mode ==== |
- | Use this property to set the style of capture | + | Set the style of capture. |
- | ^Free | You are free to extract maps of any aspect ratio. | | + | ^**Property**^**Description**^ |
- | ^Aspect ratio restricted | The extracted maps will adhere to the specified ratio, no matter where the top and bottom markers are placed. | | + | |**Free**| You are free to extract maps of any aspect ratio. | |
+ | |**Aspect ratio restricted**| The extracted maps will adhere to the specified ratio, no matter where the top and bottom markers are placed. | | ||
- | == Aspect ratio == | + | ==== Aspect ratio ==== |
- | When the "Mode" | + | When the **Mode** property is set to **Aspect ratio restricted**, the captured area will be forced |
==== Curve Capture ==== | ==== Curve Capture ==== | ||
The properties in this group control how often and how accurately the mesh is sampled. | The properties in this group control how often and how accurately the mesh is sampled. | ||
- | == Extra points == | + | === Extra points |
- | The mesh will be sampled at a discrete number of points as indicated by the black dots with white outlines. The number of points is computed based on the discovered radii and "Mode" | + | The mesh is sampled at a discrete number of points as indicated by the black dots with white outlines. The number of points is computed based on the discovered radii and **Mode** setting while analyzing the top and bottom points. Use this property to add extra points to improve the accuracy of the converter. Extra points are added one at a time with each new point splitting the longest segment. |
- | >**Note:** Extra points always cover the region between the top and bottom markers. When the "Mode" | + | **Note:** Extra points always cover the region between the top and bottom markers. When the **Mode** is set to **Aspect ratio restricted**, you may have to add many points to see them in the area of interest. |
- | == Relax == | + | === Relax === |
- | Increase this value to smooth out the spacing between the sample points. | + | Increase this value to smooth out the spacing between the sample points. Watch the preview image to see how the final output will be affected. |
- | == Max iterations == | + | === Max iterations |
- | Blend regions and aspect ratio corrected main sections discover a course through the mesh automatically. | + | Blend regions and aspect ratio corrected main sections discover a course through the mesh automatically. This setting controls how many times the algorithm will try new paths before declaring a failure. Increase this value for particularly curvy, troublesome meshes. |
==== Tiling ==== | ==== Tiling ==== | ||
- | In order to make the extracted maps tile in the V direction, parts of the mesh must be overlapped over the border. | + | In order to make the extracted maps tile in the V direction, parts of the mesh must be overlapped over the border. The properties in this section control that behavior. |
- | == Blend source == | + | === Blend source |
- | Choose how the V blend data is computed | + | Choose how the V blend data is computed. |
- | ^From below | The area just under the "B" | + | ^**Property**^**Description**^ |
- | ^From above | The area just above the "T" | + | |**From below**| The area just under the B marker is replicated on the top of the extracted maps. This property is the most common and must be used for Convert in place operations.| |
- | ^Custom | A custom location is used to create a tiling region at the bottom and top of the extracted maps. | | + | |**From above**| The area just above the T marker is replicated on the bottom of the extracted maps. | |
- | ^Disabled | No blending | + | |**Custom**| A custom location is used to create a tiling region at the bottom and top of the extracted maps. | |
+ | |**Disabled**| No blending | ||
- | > | + | === Height localization === |
+ | Control how height data is computed for the exported heightmaps. A value of 0.0 means no localization. The highest point will be white and the lowest point will be black based on the entire region. A value of 1.0 means height is judged based on the ring around each point. Use higher values to capture features while keeping the overall height map more uniform. | ||
- | == Height localization == | + | **Note:** Use the **Height** |
- | This property controls how height data is computed for the exported height maps. A value of 0.0 means no localization at all. The highest point will be white and the lowest point will be black based on the entire region. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | >**Note:** Use the render mode " | + | |
=== Top === | === Top === | ||
- | The properties in this group control the blend region placed at the top of the map. The geometry for this will be taken from below the "B" | + | The properties in this group control the blend region placed at the top of the map. The geometry for this will be taken from below the B marker (or custom marker if enabled) so that the end result will tile in the V direction. |
== Blend range == | == Blend range == | ||
- | This property controls | + | Control |
- | >**Note:** The Tree Window will show the blend region triangles in wireframe over the mesh. | + | **Note:** The Tree Window will show the blend region triangles in wireframe over the mesh. |
== Mask == | == Mask == | ||
- | Selects | + | Select |
== Stretch == | == Stretch == | ||
- | Stretches | + | Stretch |
+ | |||
+ | ==Shift== | ||
+ | Rotate the blend mask around the blend geometry. Use this property to align the blend mask on the mesh. | ||
== Repeat == | == Repeat == | ||
- | Sets the number of times the blend mask will repeat | + | Set the number of times the blend mask repeats |
=== Bottom === | === Bottom === | ||
- | The properties in this group control the blend region placed at the bottom of the map. The geometry for this will be taken from above the "T" | + | The properties in this group control the blend region placed at the bottom of the map. The geometry for this will be taken from above the T marker (or custom marker, if enabled) so that the end result will tile in the V direction. |
== Blend range == | == Blend range == | ||
- | This property controls | + | Control |
- | >**Note:** The Tree Window will show the blend region triangles in wireframe over the mesh. | + | **Note:** The Tree Window will show the blend region triangles in wireframe over the mesh. |
== Mask == | == Mask == | ||
- | Selects | + | Select |
== Stretch == | == Stretch == | ||
- | Stretches | + | Stretch |
+ | |||
+ | ==Shift== | ||
+ | Rotate the blend mask around the blend geometry. Use this property to align the blend mask on the mesh. | ||
== Repeat == | == Repeat == | ||
- | Sets the number of times the blend mask will repeat | + | Set the number of times the blend mask repeats |
===== Preview ===== | ===== Preview ===== | ||
- | The properties in this group control the preview image in the Tree Window. | + | The properties in this group control the preview image in the Tree Window. The black arrows indicate where a map ends and the next one starts for tiling previews. The pink bar indicates the span of the background image. The orange bars indicate the range of the blend regions. |
- | >**Note:** The preview image uses the active render mode so things like moving the light will affect it. You can also change to something like " | + | **Note:** The preview image uses the active render mode so things like moving the light will affect it. You can also use material render modes to focus on one aspect at a time. |
- | == Size == | + | ==== Size ==== |
- | Controls | + | Control |
- | == Options == | + | ==== Options |
- | Controls | + | Control |
- | ^Background | + | ^**Property**^**Description**^ |
- | ^Blends only | Shows only the blend region over a black background. | + | |**Background |
- | ^Background only | Shows only the background. | | + | |**Blends only**| Shows only the blend region over a black background. Use this mode to help tune the blends. | |
+ | |**Background only**| Shows only the background. | | ||
- | == Show tiles == | + | ==== Show tiles ==== |
When enabled, the tiling map is drawn consecutively until it reaches the top of the window. | When enabled, the tiling map is drawn consecutively until it reaches the top of the window. | ||
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==== Settings ==== | ==== Settings ==== | ||
- | == Resolution == | + | == Resolution |
- | This property sets the width, in pixels, of the exported maps. The height is computed to maintain the appropriate aspect ratio. | + | Set the width, in pixels, of the exported maps. The height is computed to maintain the appropriate aspect ratio. |
- | == Segment style == | + | === Segment style === |
- | Choose how length segments are set on converted geometry | + | Choose how length segments are set on converted geometry. |
- | ^Uniform | Length segments | + | ^**Property**^**Description**^ |
- | ^Height based | The distribution curve will be set to focus length segments in areas of greater height change. | | + | |**Uniform**| Length segments |
+ | |**Height based**| The distribution curve is set to focus length segments in areas of greater height change. | | ||
- | >**Note:** This property has no effect on "Convert in place" | + | **Note:** This property has no effect on Convert in place operations. |
== Vertex height map == | == Vertex height map == | ||
- | Choose how the generated | + | Choose how the generated |
- | + | ||
- | ^In the material' | + | |
- | ^In a displacement asset | The generated height map will be used as a displacement asset. | + | |
- | == Export maps... == | + | ^**Property**^**Description**^ |
- | Click this button | + | |**In the material' |
+ | |**In a displacement asset**| The generated heightmap will be used as a displacement asset. Use this option if you want to use the built-in smoothing options to reduce complications due to aliasing at low polygonal resolutions. | | ||
- | == Make new material... | + | ==== Export maps ==== |
- | Click this button to export | + | Export |
- | == Convert to branch... | + | ==== Make new material ==== |
- | Click this button to export | + | Export |
- | == Convert to trunk... | + | ==== Convert to branch ==== |
- | Click this button to export | + | Export |
- | == Convert | + | ==== Convert |
- | Click this button to export | + | Export |
+ | ==== Convert in place ==== | ||
+ | Export a set of maps, make a new material from them, and automatically create a stitch where the B marker is placed. The mesh below the stitch will be retained. The new material will be applied to the Branch generator that is a child of the stitch. Edit and build off of this generator to continue the model. |