A few years ago I bought Vue 2 and left it for a while. This week I spent some time with it again and had fun. To my surprise Vue 4 is already on the market!

Here are my questions:
It is possible to add your own textures to Vue by using .bmp files. But how can I create the .mat files myself? How do I convert textures into that format?

Also: how can I add colormaps in .clr format. Which software makes that conversion?

Anybody?
Jacqueline

Well, i think most is in the manual - look for material editor and see how to save materials (including textures) there. It is easy. bmp is possible. clr format - i think the only software i know that maybe can do the convertion is GraphiConverter. But thats a Mac application. I will try that. Maybe somebody else has one converter for Windows. Walther

It is not in the Vue 2 manual. There isn't even a word about the import of .bmp files. But I had found some tutorials that showed me how to do it. I would like to learn to make/import the basic .mat (and .clr) materials so that there is a greater choice for me. On the web I found someone who had these for downloads - but because of the copyright issue I'd rather try for myself.

I think you make the .clr colormaps right inside of Vue. Try taking an existing color map and opening it up so you can see all the colors (I think edit), you should be able to change them as you want. And then save them. For materials with an image map (bmp, jpg etc), it's easy. Once you edit the material and add the image map, you can just save the material.

(It is possible to add your own textures to Vue by using .bmp files. But how can I create the .mat files myself? How do I convert textures into that format?) Yes it is. Open the material editor check coloring mode. Click load then find the bmp picture you want as your texture. Now go to your bump tab. Right click the bump picture icon and select edit function. A new window will open check mapped values. The bump icon will go black in the lower right corner you will see another square black icon double click that and then find the same bmp picture for you bump mat. Click ok now you have a bmp picture texture and a bmp bump mat that match. :O) CLR format I believe is an HP printing format and you may be able to convert that in Photo Shop. Best of luck.

Thank you RDS! Tried it with your instructions and it worked quite well. My first material is in the software. Now it is time to learn what the best pictures are and the best size to use. Any ideas for that - or is it just trial and error? Next will be the colormaps... This is fun!

No problem glad to lend a hand. I usually use larger pics if I can 1024 however smaller ones will work you have to be careful with tiling on the smaller ones. If you get a tile effect try mirroring the x and y plane in the materials editor. Glad you are having fun that's what it is all about for me as well. Regards.