Layered Textures and Mental Ray

Introduction to Maya - Modeling Fundamentals Vol 2

This course will look in the fundamentals of modeling in Maya with an emphasis on creating good topology. It's aimed at people that have some modeling experience in Maya but are having trouble with complex objects.

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# 1 01-03-2011 , 04:16 PM

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1. I create a layered texure with 3 layers.
2. I use 3d paint tool to create 2 black-n-white textures.
3. I assign 1 of the b&w textures to the alpha of the top layer of the layered texture.
4. I assign the other b&w texture to the alpha of the middle layer of the layered texture.
5. I render out in Maya Software, I can see all 3 layers.
6. I render out in Mental Ray, I can only see the top 2 layers.

Other people I know have the same result. Works with Software but not with MR. I've played around with alot of settings and searched Maya Help but I haven't come up with a reason yet. Anybody know why it won't work in MR? I've attached luminence nodes to the b&w textures. I've even set them to "alpha is luminance", etc. The texture sample looks fine, just doesn't render out properly in MR.

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# 2 01-03-2011 , 04:51 PM

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what blend mode are you using?

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# 3 01-03-2011 , 05:33 PM

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Top Layer=Over
Middle=Over
Bottom=None

Don't be satisfied with what you can do but rather strive to do the things you can't do!
Exceed Expectations!

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# 4 01-03-2011 , 06:25 PM

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it works for me. I must be doing something different.

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# 5 01-03-2011 , 07:23 PM

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I'll play around with it again.

Don't be satisfied with what you can do but rather strive to do the things you can't do!
Exceed Expectations!

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# 6 01-03-2011 , 10:39 PM

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why are you using rgb>luminance? have you tried without?

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# 7 01-03-2011 , 10:43 PM

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No, but I'll try without. I figured since the b&w doesn't have transparency info that I needed it. I'll try it without, thx.

Don't be satisfied with what you can do but rather strive to do the things you can't do!
Exceed Expectations!

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# 8 01-03-2011 , 10:51 PM

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That did the trick, much thanks. At first it didn't work without the luminance node so I went into the b&w attributes under color balance and turned on "alpha is luminance" and that did the trick. Shouldn't the luminance node do the same thing as turning on "alpha is luminance"? Or is it two different things?

Don't be satisfied with what you can do but rather strive to do the things you can't do!
Exceed Expectations!

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