I am new to Vue and hope I'm just over looking something or else I will be extremely disappointed with mynew purchase. When applying a set of textures to a figure... The color map is a image file. The Bump map is a image file. <-- strange sequence to actually add a .jpg file... ? It took a while to figure out how to apply the bump map as a image file, rather than some 'function'. I cannot however, find out how to apply a trans map, as in, a image file. Also, Is it possible to create a single .mat file, which includes a color, bump and trans map, all of the maps being actual images, .jpg files or the like ? Thanks for any input, Prowler

Ask Guitta....an extremely wise person that can help you, a memeber here, you might want to IM Guitta. Sharen PS: I will try to get you the tutorial from Guitta.

I can answer ! It's always the same way to use a jpg/bmp as color/bump/transparence. Go to the right tab (color/bump/trans) and click on "new" button. On the dialog box, click on "image" and load your picture. And yes, you can make a single mat using three times the same picture for different fonction. You can even use a picture for distribution of blended materials. Hope it can helps

Attached Link: http://membres.lycos.fr/arte/beginners/bitmap.html

Hi Prowler, Have a look at my tutorial "using bitmaps in Vue". It explains how to use (and create) bitmaps and their transparencies. This tut were made in Vue 2, but don't worry, it is only the interface what has changed. Yhis tut is valid for all Vue versions. If you need more help or have more questions, we are here :-) Thanks Sharen for the "wise":-). I would love to be wise, but with Vue we never stop to learn, to discover... Guitta

Prawler again me: In the tutorial, you will se a moment the sentence "click at OBJECT SPACE" This has changed in Vue 4, here you have to enable "OBJECT STANDARD" insteed of the default "WORLD STANDARD" Guitta

Thank you for the replies. I will spend some time with the tutorial, and I'll try to be a little wise myself, by loading a simple low polygon object to test maps with ! :) Thanks again. Prowler

The tutorial helped greatly. I have yet to actually try it, but just reading it is so simple and straight forward. I think I was missing the 'variable transparency' detail. It is surley because I am new to Vue, but did any of you have similar trouble when you started using the program ? I find it odd, that each map channel has it's own way of applying image files ? ie : In the color channel, you simply check 'Mapped Picture'. But the bump map, you have to choose 'edit' where a new window opens, with the 'mapped picture' option ?? And the edit function of the trans channel only seems to appear after adjusting the 'gloabal trans' slider and checking the 'varaiable transparency' box ??? Thanks for helping out with this, I think it is clear now. I just think it would be far simpler to have all of the channels (bumptrans etc... apply images in the same fashion, like the color map dialog. Simply check the 'Mapped Picture' box and load the image file. Prowler

We all were beginners and often had peoblems to understand the why and the how:-). Just ask, if we can, we help:-) Guitta

Prowler, yes it's a little odd at first. The Color channel is the most obvious, but it's also the most likely to use an image map -- well the most likely at the time the layout was designed. But the options of image maps for Bump, Transparency, Reflection, etc. do follow a kind of pattern, and although it seems a little odd at first (with windows that "open up" and change), I'd like to add my assurance that it isn't something that will perplex you forever. After a little time in the material editor, you'll begin to see where the similar ways of doing stuff are, and then all of it will suddenly be familiar for you. Sort of like learning to ride a bike...takes a little practice at first, but once you've got it moving, you've got it. :)

Thanks again all! After 2 hours and only my first image it is already like second nature.

The lighting is absolutely great Prawler. You have found very fast how to use Vue's features. And for a first image congats. You can be very proud:-). What I alqo like is that this image is very sober, nothing disturbs the eye, the view is focused to the essential:-) Guitta

I wanted to say congrats, not congats:-)

Yes, what Guitta said...the congrats part! This is a well-lit image with good color and composition, and it even tells something of a story. Very cool! :)

Yes, I agree, this picture is really cool ! Lighting is great, atmosphere is sober but great, construction is simple but effective (even if my own feeling lead me to more complexes scenes), in brief, I like this one. For me, this picture could approach perfection with keeping its simplicity -there's nothing to add : no vegetation, no other character, no more complexe sky, etc...- but with inprovments on details : textures, pose of the character, small fixing of lights for enhance the dramatic mood... that sort of things. I'll surely look for your furture works !!!