designing siding to look (and tile) as real as possible

[George Smith]

I'm sorry if this is too close in nature to another question I just posted, but I'm trying not to jumble up the forum by combining different things in a single thread.
I'm trying to replicate an exterior siding look, and make it a little more realistic than I have it so far. I'd like to have 4x8 sheets of HardiPanel, with an aluminum reveal in between each.  (See http://www.jameshardiecommercial.com/hardie-reveal-panel.shtml ).  

It's really nice that Hardie is one of the companies that supplies, with some kind of partnership with Cadsoft/IMSI, .BIM files for their products (see http://www.green3dhome.com/BIMCatalogs.aspx) Unfortunately, it didnt include this specific product with the reveals, but I was able to get the actual colors from there and make my own material.  I then added the aluminum reveal in PS or Microsoft Paint, and sized it for 4x8 tiles.  But it renders a little too cartoonish and the reveals don't have any 'depth', since they are just silver lines painted on.  3 questions:  

1. Any suggestions on how to add some depth to the aluminum reveal (negative depth, since it's a recess)?

2. How does everyone 'dirty' up their materials to make them more real?  I mean, this is a 4x8 sheet of the same uniform color in TFP, but in real life there are lots of shades/variations.  FWIW, I tried adding 'monochromatic noise' to it in PS, but it didn't work great.
 
3.  TFP is awesome how it tiles different materials over big walls/areas, especially how it continues the pattern over 2 different sections of exterior wall without missing a beat.  It seems to tile from top-to-bottom and kind of right-to-left.  How can I make it so that if I have a 4'x8' sheet of siding on a 10' tall wall, it puts the horizontal seam at 8' AFF, like you would in real life (instead of at 2' AFF?) see attached

Thanks
George

[Draftcad]

Hi George,

The secret is called... Layers with effects. MS paint works with only one layer, so the appearance is flat.
I'd suggest the use a program like Photoshop, or Paint Shop or Photoimpact or even Serif Photo and apply the process described below

See the image attached--> I used Paint Shop Pro X2--> First, I developed the background in yellow (Layer 1) --> then I created a 5 sides' shape (layer 2) + then I used the drop shadow effect (layer 3). For more effect, you can add the bevel effect to the shape, it it will look as a volume instead of a surface
I will use this image also to illustrate your other question 

I will be glad to help if you have additional questions about this issue

Pat

[Doug.S]

1.a.  As suggested, "paint" in a line that looks like it shows depth....black and gray (shadow)....see other materials that came with TFP and study how they show shadows....like dark lines under a horizontal clapboard....or simply find a real install of your selected materials and take a photo....you'll get materials variations too in one image. Just plan ahead for your renders so the shadow matches the expected shadow based on your light source.

1.b. Actually make a 3D vertex object with the real depth.....MUCH more work but may be best for a close-up view.

2. You can use a 3D program shader/plugin that will apply variation or hand paint on some crud/wear/rust/dirt etc. You can easily do so in PS. Or, using another 3D program, make such a procedural texture and render a flat 2D output and use that for your material.....in fact you could make a 3D wall with the depth/groove, texture as desired, render a 2D image with the groove shadow obvious, and apply that image (.jpg) to your wall in TFP.

3. The dialog box used to apply textures to an object allow for "size" and position....so you can make your 2D image repeat in a pattern as needed for both the size, orientation, and where the pattern starts.  Can't remember if you can do that for a wall but I think you can.....lets the program do all the work of alignment and matching. 
Alternatively make your texture pattern fit each wall and apply a different .jpg to each different wall....LOTS more work but you have ultimate controls of image placement look on every wall.

Doug.S

3 questions:  

1. Any suggestions on how to add some depth to the aluminum reveal (negative depth, since it's a recess)?

2. How does everyone 'dirty' up their materials to make them more real?  I mean, this is a 4x8 sheet of the same uniform color in TFP, but in real life there are lots of shades/variations.  FWIW, I tried adding 'monochromatic noise' to it in PS, but it didn't work great.
 
3.  TFP is awesome how it tiles different materials over big walls/areas, especially how it continues the pattern over 2 different sections of exterior wall without missing a beat.  It seems to tile from top-to-bottom and kind of right-to-left.  How can I make it so that if I have a 4'x8' sheet of siding on a 10' tall wall, it puts the horizontal seam at 8' AFF, like you would in real life (instead of at 2' AFF?) see attached

Thanks
George

[George Smith]

First of all, thanks to both of you, and to all who post the opposite direction as me (I am bottom looking up; thanks to the posters who reach down & help us: Allan, Jack, Doug, robban, Pat, etc).  I can't imagine using a program like this without a forum like this.  The user's manual (even the 650 page Envisioneer manual) gets one about 5% of the way there.

Pat, I like that idea, and I know just enough of what I'm doing to handle that technique.  If one were to do it that way with layers, (or like Doug suggests in 1a with black/gray lines to add the depth), the shadows would be fixed.  As Doug noted, I'd have to plan ahead and customize each wall surface as well as the sun location.  I really like to play around with sun angles too, so I don't think this would work in this exact instance, but it'd probably work for others who don't change their mind as much as I do.

Doug,
I think i'll try your suggestion 1b- actually make a 3d object.  If it takes too long to muddle through it, I'll cheat & fake the reveals with generic shadows that don't move.

3. The dialog box used to apply textures to an object allow for "size" and position....so you can make your 2D image repeat in a pattern as needed for both the size, orientation, and where the pattern starts.  Can't remember if you can do that for a wall but I think you can.....lets the program do all the work of alignment and matching.
Alternatively make your texture pattern fit each wall and apply a different .jpg to each different wall....LOTS more work but you have ultimate controls of image placement look on every wall.

You were right.  I overlooked the Mapping button when applying materials.  I can move the sheets anywhere I want effortlessly.  Thanks

TurboFloorPlan is incredible.