Full title was too long, should be:

Poser 6: How can I make a material (MT5/MC6/PZ2) to JUST change U/V_Scale, or Image_Source?

Any hints on how to create a material (either MT5, MC6 or PZ2 MAT pose) that will ONLY change one or two of the material parameters, leaving the others as they were?

I've just released another tileable texture freebie, and thanks to previous advice on these forums I've got the Poser and DS mats sorted out properly. So I decided to try to add a couple of extra 'partial-materials' to...

1. Just change the size of the tiling (U_Scale and V_Scale), leaving everything else at it was.

2. Change all the texture images, leaving everything else as it was.

But everything I tried ended up changing all the other parameters and/or disconnecting/deleting the nodes (I just have the same three Image_Map nodes in all the materials).

So am I asking the impossible, or missing something obvious? (Hopefully, and going from past experience most likely, the latter!)

Asking the impossible. Material files cannot describe changes to existing nodes. They describe the whole material - all nodes, all parameters. There are no partial shaders.

However, a Python script could do it.

And there are some scripts that help create material changing scripts.

I have never used this one but it is free and it makes partial shaders of some kind.

http://www.runtimedna.com/Advanced-Shaders.html

Fairly definitive answer - thanks.

Semidieu's script at RDNA looks promising but it needs Poser 8+, and I'm still using Poser 6. So it looks like I'm going to have to get to grips with Python if I want to do this.

Thanks again.

I have a script  in my free stuff here, which will scale the tile size for the currently selected material (you need to be in the Material Room). You can use it in Poser 6 and up.

Poser 8 isn't really out of reach, you know:

http://www.purplus.net/poser8.html

parrotdolphin - thanks, I've grabbed that and I'll try it out. I'll add a link on my tileable texture pages if it's all okay. Nice short script too, so it's a good starting point for me to (re)learn how to program - maybe I'll be producing my own scripts soon!**
**

RobynsVeil - Woo-HOO! I'd more-or-less abandoned the idea of upgrading Poser because of postal charges (see my thread here http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?message_id=3855440) - but that PurPlus link states that they ship internationally via USPS International Airmail (see bagginsbill's last comment on that thread). I just checked it out and I've grabbed a copy of Poser 8 for $49.95 (including shipping to the UK - Thailand's not on their list). So a big, big  THANK YOU!

(provided of course that (i) they charge my credit card what they said, (ii) it actually arrives )

Please do let me know how you go with this, 3DCh... I would hate recommending something that turns out to be a dud, but from what I've read on here they have a fair-few satisfied customers in Poserdom...

Will do - I'll post back here (and on the thread I mentioned). I did have a quick check around for any warning signals before actually placing the order - Googling the site's name, checking their WOT rating, etc. There's a few unhappy customers, but as far as I can tell the majority seem happy enough. fingers crossed.

parrotdolphin - your script works like a charm! Thanks. Now if it did all materials in the selected object in one go...

I don't mind if you add a link to the script or even include it in your zip file. Feel free to use it however you like. Mat zones on an item aren't always UV mapped so that the scale is the same for each zone. That's why I prefer to have it run for just a single material at a time. But, there are scripts out there that run though all material zones to perform whatever task and I guess my script could be adapted to do that.

Quote - Mat zones on an item aren't always UV mapped so that the scale is the same for each zone

Good point. Indeed for the tileable mail textures that prompted this question I use different U/V_Scales for different materials.I did this so that the scales (as in scale armour/dragon scales) from different materials looked roughly the same size in the render.

I envisioned users thinking "oh, those scales (as in scale armour/dragon scales) look a bit too small, I'll just make them all a bit bigger". So applying the same percentage to all materials would be perfect in this particular situation. (My cobbled-together DS 'set tiling' scripts set an absolute value - I'll have to amend that)

The Poser 6 PoserPython Methods PDF I found on my laptop looks fairly good, so with that and your script as a starting point I should be able to work out how to do what I want.

Sounds good. Good luck with your Python scripting.

Not as difficult as I thought it would be. I've now got a script that does exactly what I wanted - I basically just needed to pick up the materials list from the current actor:

matsList = act.Materials()
j=len(matsList)
for i in range(j):

So now the script could easily set just the selected material, or all materials, or let the user select Yes/No for each material in turn. And now I can play with all those other material/shader parameters - Pandora's Box indeed!

Any objections to me uploading my modified version of your script? (Renderosity/ShareCG freestuff as usual, and probably as the first useful thing on my new website)

Fantastic! I have no objection at all.

you can loop through all materials by doing this

mats = act.Materials()

for mat in mats:

      * do stuff *

markschum: yes indeed, and thanks. My programming skills may be very rusty, but all they need is a bit of oiling! I'm sure that I'd have realised sooner or later (probably later) that my 'j' was unnecessary, so a nudge in the right direction is always handy.

parrotdolphin: I'd almost forgotten how much 'fun' programming was! ;o)

bagginsbill: as usual your advice has turned out to be spot on! Python scripting definitely seems to be the best way to do this.

Hopefully I'll upload the modified script(s) in the next few days

(Note to self: if syntax error check for colon at end of loop/conditional statement)

Quote - ... (Note to self: if syntax error check for colon at end of loop/conditional statement)

If Python, also check indentation is correct. Tab is not the same to Python as space and whilst they may look identical, if you bring up all the non-printing characters, you can quickly spot the flaw.

Thanks - noted.

Btw I just found this enlightening Changing Alternate_Diffuse value thread on the Poser Python Scripting forum (when I popped by to ask a really stupid question). Seems you've recently done something very similar to what I'm trying here. More examples to learn from!

Almost done - I've posted the whole script over on the Poser Python Sxcripting forum under Script for setting U/V_Scale of image maps in current figure/actor (nearly done) - feedback much appreciated.

Btw - I should have mentioned that I'm still debugging and tidying up the script. When that's complete I'll post it on the Renderosity Freestuff.

Just got a message that my package from PurPlus has arrived in the UK. Just over a week - not bad.

Can't check it myself since I'm still in Thailand, so getting a relative to do that for me. Hopefully it'll be all present and correct.

Thanks for the update - sheesh, a week. In this day and age. I guess that isn't bad.

Script uploaded to Renderosity Freestuff, pending approval. Should appear soon.

Thanks for that... looking forward to it!