As I was making some clothing, I started wondering. Do people prefer clothes or props that have one material zone, or have several zones, one for each section (like one for the ruffle, one for the bow, one for the skirt, the bodice, etc)? 

I prefer models to have several material zones. 

Ditto.

I prefer multiple zones as well... it adds a lot of flexibility for those of us who like to muck around with different textures and so forth.

Ditto.  More zones makes it possible for each image map or
shader to be simpler, thus easier to understand and modify.

Invariably whenever I create too few material zones I end up adding more...can never have too may really.

What everyone else said ;o).

I try to think ahead as to what one might be able do if there were a separate material zone in a certain place or problems that might be caused if there wasn't one :o).

Laurie

Same here.

It's possible to go OTT with them, though, as I found out with one of my Dalek models (although it's not one I've released as a freebie).   SanctumArt tends to put too many zones in his models, too.  It makes changing anything a real pain in the hind end.

Then that's where BB's VSS comes into play.

Quote - Then that's where BB's VSS comes into play.

Which is great if you want a realistic skin shader on a set of powered armour, I guess.  :D

 Thanks all. I was thinking the same thing, but wanted to make sure I wasn't in the minority with my opinion. If I'm making stuff for others to use I want it to be pleasant for them.

Quote - > Quote - Then that's where BB's VSS comes into play.

Which is great if you want a realistic skin shader on a set of powered armour, I guess.  :D

Huh? You can use VSS with any type of figure/prop and any type of shader - it's not just for human skin.

Or was my joke detector turned off?... Let me just check on that ... :O)

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - Then that's where BB's VSS comes into play.

Which is great if you want a realistic skin shader on a set of powered armour, I guess.  :D

Huh? You can use VSS with any type of figure/prop and any type of shader - it's not just for human skin.

Or was my joke detector turned off?... Let me just check on that ... :O)

Nup.  Was a smartass but ultimately serious response.  I thought the way VSS worked was to construct a shader to work with skin and any other human type bits and pieces.  I wasn't aware of another use.

VSS copies shader templates from a control prop to any other props or figures.

The shaders it copies are loaded by you or me. They can be anything.

I supply (for free) a set of shaders for humans. I always planned to supply others in the pay version but never got around to it. I'm so busy with work I never get around to any of my intended commercial Poser thingies.

I'm trying to correct that, but it's very difficult for me.  Meanwhile, I've been releasing free shaders just to stay in the game. Shaders that I had planned to charge for but have no time to finish to a level I feel justifies charging. Recent free shaders I've posted (various glass, metal, nylon, and others) were intended to be commercial.

Before I do anything commercial, I really need to get back on the Luxpose project. I have no time. Grrrrr.

Thanks for the heads up, BB.  I probably did know about the function but forgot somewhere along the way.  

I hope you get some free time, mate.  Your shaders would be a sure fire commercial hit. 

I once imported a car model that was in 3ds format.  It had about 200 material zones, all designated by number.  I played with it a while, and got the glass transparent, but I gave up diving what the rest were......

Quote - I once imported a car model that was in 3ds format.  It had about 200 material zones, all designated by number.  I played with it a while, and got the glass transparent, but I gave up diving what the rest were......

That would be a rather easy fix. Import model into Wings, then you could see what is where, and combine some that can be combined, etc.