3ds Max 2012 Bible - Kelly L. Murdock [215]
Note
The U and V values are a percentage of the total image. For example, a U value of 0.25 positions the image's left edge at a location that is 25 percent of the distance of the total width from the left edge of the original image. •
If the bitmap has an alpha channel, you can specify whether it is to be used with the Image Alpha option, or you can define the alpha values as RGB Intensity or as None. You can also select to use Premultiplied Alphas. Premultiplied Alphas are images that use the transparency information stored in the image.
Checker map
The Checker map creates a checkerboard image with two colors. The Checker Parameters rollout includes two color swatches for changing the checker colors. You can also load maps in place of each color. Use the Swap button to switch the position of the two colors and the Soften value to blur the edges between the two colors.
Figure 17.11 shows three Checker maps with Tiling values of 2 for the U and V directions and Soften values of (from left to right) 0, 0.2, and 0.5.
FIGURE 17.11
The Checker map can be softened as these three maps are with Soften values of 0, 0.2, and 0.5.
Combustion map
This map works with Autodesk's Combustion package, which is used for post-processing compositing. The Combustion map enables you to include Combustion-produced effects as a material map.
The Project button lets you load a file to paint on. These files are limited to the types that Combustion supports. Use the Edit button to load the Combustion interface.
In the Live Edit section, the Unwrap button places markings on the bitmap image to show where the mapping coordinates are located. The UV button lets you change from among UV, VW, and UW coordinate systems. The Track Time button lets you change the current frame, which enables you to paint materials that change over time. The Paint button changes the viewport cursor to enable you to paint interactively in the viewport. The Operator button lets you select a composition operator from within Combustion.
The Combustion map also includes information about current project settings for specifying a custom resolution. You can also control the Start Frame and Duration of an animation sequence. The Filtering options are Pyramidal, Summed Area, or None, and the End Conditions can be set to Loop, Ping Pong (which moves back and forth between the start and end positions), or Hold.
Caution
To use this map type, you must have the Combustion program. If the program isn't installed, the text “Error: Combustion Engine DLL Not Found” displays at the top of the Combustion Parameters rollout. •
Gradient map
The Gradient map creates a gradient image using three colors. The Gradient Parameters rollout includes a color swatch and map button for each color. You can position the center color at any location between the two ends using the Color 2 Position value spinner. The value can range from 0 through 1. The rollout lets you choose between Linear and Radial gradient types.
The Noise Amount adds noise to the gradient if its value is nonzero. The Size value scales the noise effect, and the Phase controls how quickly the noise changes over time. The three types of noise that you can select are Regular, Fractal, and Turbulence. The Levels value determines how many times the noise function is applied. The High and Low Threshold and Smooth values set the limits of the noise function to eliminate discontinuities.
Figure 17.12 shows linear and radial Gradient maps.
FIGURE 17.12
A Gradient map can be linear (left) or radial (right).
Gradient Ramp map
This advanced version of the Gradient map can use many different colors. The Gradient Ramp Parameters rollout, shown in Figure 17.13, includes a color bar with several flags along its bottom edge. You can add flags by simply clicking along the bottom edge. You can also drag flags to reposition them or