FloorPlan User Forum

General Category - V.16 and Earlier => V12 - V16 Looking for Help? => Topic started by: Doug.S on November 08, 2007, 11:27:55 AM

Title: How do I make a simple material color change?
Post by: Doug.S on November 08, 2007, 11:27:55 AM
I know this should be simple....but after trying and checking help I still am baffled.

In FP11 you could "modify" a color of a material by checking a box (modulate) and select the modifier color.

But how to do similar thing in TFP12?

For example a stucco exterior wall...by default stucco2 is a bluish color....and I'd prefer it to be more grayish.  I am willing to make a new "stucco2x" to add to catalog ...or modify the master....

But how to do that simple task???

Do I have to go to all the trouble of opening the TFP stucco2.jpg file and recolor in Photoshop then re-import as stucco2x.jpg and add it to the db?
Title: Re: How do I make a simple material color change?
Post by: Allan Chesney on November 08, 2007, 11:45:08 AM
Doug,

I had a quick look earlier for a transparency option that lets a colour underneath show through a texture and so far have not found anything.  Some thing are very deep so I have not given up hope yet.

Allan
Title: Re: How do I make a simple material color change?
Post by: jjocsak on November 08, 2007, 12:29:38 PM
I will be waiting for more responses on this issue. The only way I've done it was to bring the texture into PhotoShop and recolor there. Not very easy.

Jeff
Title: Re: How do I make a simple material color change?
Post by: Kajvin - Robert W on November 10, 2007, 08:53:47 AM
I have try to change colour but I have not succeed, so I think we have to use PotoShop or some other graphic program, a tip is to use HyperSnap for it if you have it, all snapshoot I use on this forum is made by HyperSnap, until  Cadsoft can ad this function in the program it will be a nice thing to do

/ robban
Title: Can you import custom textures ??
Post by: Nik on November 10, 2007, 09:41:11 AM
Okay, the way it was done in 'Classic' FP was a pain, prone to crashing, and subject to topology of wrap, but I could import a set of related 'woody' textures for my custom doors etc.

I could then use the same textures on the same 3DS models in Poser_4 etc.

See *free* WoodWorkshop at...
http://spiralgraphics.biz/index.htm

PLEASE tell me TFP can do the same, as I'm working my way around to liking the program !! I've even asked Avanquest, IMSI's UK re-seller, to check when 'boxed' TFP_Pro will be available, as I cannot use it without hard-copy manual...

Title: Re: How do I make a simple material color change?
Post by: Allan Chesney on November 10, 2007, 09:48:45 AM
Nik,

There is no problem with textures, what seems to be missing is the 'modulate' option.  This meant you could make the texture transparent so that the base colour underneath showed through, giving us the ability to tint the texture.

It seems now the only option is to tint a texture externally and import it.

Allan
Title: BMP / JPG colour depth...
Post by: Nik on November 10, 2007, 10:24:43 AM
Ah ! Thank you, Allan !

Do you think this is a TFP 'bug', or the same old FP 'No Support For Alpha Channel' ??
---

OT: I was quite surprised when I examined an animated GIF with IrfanView-- I didn't realise they could 'run themselves'...

Title: Re: How do I make a simple material color change?
Post by: Doug.S on November 10, 2007, 01:15:19 PM
I don't think its a bug, just an oversight of ease of use....lack of a feature

TFP does have a alpha channel of sorts.....it makes "magenta" transparent...but does not use a channel but rather the color of the image. Advantage is smaller file and can use .jpg or .bmp with no channel layer....but virtually impossible to get a clean cut line using .jpg and even .bmp is difficult....but OK from a distance.

OTOH the ability to control images applied to an object are much better for how applied (face, box, auto) or aligned etc. than was available in FP

I resorted to using Photoshop to create a new material color, and its OK, just not as fast/easy.

The method of applying textures to objects using the materials paintbrush is a vast improvement.

Radiosity rendering is much better result and reasonably fast....but a LOT of tinkering before balance of brightness is achieved.
Title: Re: How do I make a simple material color change?
Post by: Allan Chesney on November 11, 2007, 11:06:13 AM
I can't get Radiosity to work at all on my desktop (Laptop is fine).  See post in General Discussion - "Software Crashing/RAM Poll".

Looking for ideas!!

Allan