I know this is probably simple, but for days if not weeks, I've been trying to make a grunge or dirty layer for a material in vue. I have a layer with texture maps, but wanted to add a dirty layer to add to it procedurally. Either it shows up semitransparent, not at all, or completely takes over. Am I misunderstanding how layers work in VUE?

Mixed Material used?  Mixing Proportions set at 50%?  Value and contrast the same for both materials?  Distribution of Materials is using a Grainy Fractal (not the default Simple Fractal)?  Clicked the Swap icon to reverse the mix order of Material 1 and 2?

I tried mixed material, and just adding a material. I played with mixing proportions at many settings. Value and contrast, I never thought of, thanks. I don't think I tried the grainy fractal, but I did try others. And yes I tried flipping the mix order, it switched things up, but didn't get where I wanted. Thanks for your help, I'll look into those things.

Thank you so much. It works, I don't know, I guess I was over complicating things before.

Well for demonstration of this point, here's my freebie "dirt/grunge" material layer for Vue8 and above :)

http://www.silverblades-suitcase.com/vue_mats/Steves_Layered_Dirt_V8.zip

it works both procedurally AND with a texture, I put input nodes in for such (you nna blend them), so you can for example, use a UV map to drive specific placement of grunge/dirt, which is how I make ship decks/hulls have staining drippign down them, or in certian areas etc.

:)