Embossed Snow Chunks

[rcallicotte]

I took the TGC from the following site and added it to a Default scene.  No matter what I do with the instructions given here http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=753.0 , the ice / snow edge stays vertical.  Anyone get this to work and, if so, how?

[peejay]

just guessing, but the instructions do mention a 'lateral only' function - this would mean you would also have to have a compute normal in their somewhere?

I don't think he showed us the whole node network, just the bit he felt was relevant

[rcallicotte]

If that's the case, no one has said this and that was a year ago.  If we're going to share stuff, then let's really share it.  Don't tell me that "you just have to experiment".  I can experiment without someone telling me they have a solution that doesn't work.

So...if anyone has made this work with the instructions as is and the TGC as is, let me know how.  Otherwise, this solution doesn't exist.  Don't show me examples of scenes.  Let me know how it works.

[Mandrake]

I remember playing with this and had some crazy problem too.

[rcallicotte]

Mandrake, I saw a couple of others ask about this before, when I was looking for a solution, and I found the same general misunderstanding. 

It would be great if we were given the understanding of how this works so we could implement.  Too much of this stuff in TG2 is the Twilight Zone.  I'm looking for general understanding most of the time. 

I think the general consensus is that some people who visit (or lurk) on the Planetside forums are scared to share what they know, but fortunately not everyone.

"...with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

[Mandrake]

I think the problem I had was that I could only get it to work as a stand alone. If I did layers below it then it just melt into the terrain, so I probably just did not displace it right. Sorry, it did work though. I have it at home, I'll take a look later..

[rcallicotte]

If you or someone can show me this works as is, I'll crap my pants.   

I think the problem I had was that I could only get it to work as a stand alone. If I did layers below it then it just melt into the terrain, so I probably just did not displace it right. Sorry, it did work though. I have it at home, I'll take a look later..

[j meyer]

I've had just a quick try with that one last year and don't know
if it will be of any help to you.Since i don't remember what i've
done exactly i attach the tgd so you can have a look yourself.

[RArcher]

Over a year ago there was an Ashundar image of the week contest using this file.  It worked fine then, but now opening up the same .tgd I created back then, now gives the same problem you are having.  I believe this is being caused by the major changes Matt made to the intersect underlying functions in the newer builds of the software.  To fix the problem I would try modifying the values under the effects tab on the Snow_Base layer.  Or I could be totally grasping at straws and you may be better off waiting and hoping Lucio has a better answer.

Edit:  Increasing the value for - intersection zone has fixed the vertical problem for my old .tgd file.

[rcallicotte]

Thanks, jmeyer.  This is a render from your file, without any changes by me.

This is what I found, when doing what I did from the TGC as given, following the instructions, etc.

[j meyer]

Strange!
That's how my render of it looks.

[rcallicotte]

RArcher, this is great.  Thank you.  I upped the default TGC's value of the Snow Vertical Emboss's Displacement offset to .75 and upped the Snow Base's Intersection Zone to .03906.  I changed nothing else.

THANKS EVERYONE.  You have restored my confidence even more in the helpfulness of this forum and its gracious users.

[rcallicotte]

Jmeyer, my camera height was lower than yours in my render, but I changed nothing else. 

Anyway, it's working now...

[j meyer]

"Anyway, it's working now..."

Fine!

[mogn]

There is a minor trouble in the UI, when incorperating a an tgc as the last shader. I miss an assign shader, in the add layer menu.
It can be done in the following way:
1. Add any shader
2. In the node view, connect the the Base colours to the input of the "Snow base"
3. Connect the output of the "Snow base" to the input of the added shader
4. Delete the added shader.