I am trying to make my own "Sand Dunes Shader" and have done pretty good so far. However, I am having weird anomalies with parts of the dunes turning a deeper color on the horizon or distance. If I move the camera, get close, the color changes back to normal... Any ideas? Update: Figured out this error at least. Compute Terrain does not function right through a Default Shader.
Also, how might I get rid of those weird lines on the dune upper left of the right red circle? xD I assume it's my train becoming a bit to sharp.
(http://i.imgur.com/W0wMbXw.png)
Updated Super Sand Shader v0.2 - Not sure if those slight peaks in the furthest distance have the color problem or not.
(http://i.imgur.com/045jtjI.png)
What was your specific network setup when you had Compute Terrain "working through a Default Shader"? Depending on what input you had it going into, it may not have been passing along all necessary data, I suppose. But going through the primary Input node, it should be fine.
Anyway, it's really hard to say what is causing this problem without looking at how you have setup your scene. If you want us to dig into it, you can either post your TGD here, or email it privately to support AT planetside.co.uk and we'll be happy to take a look. One thing I can say is I suspect the odd curved lines in your terrain in the upper-middle-right could be fixed by using Ridge and/or Gully Smoothing in the Tweak Noise tab of the Power Fractal (assuming that's what you're using).
- Oshyan
Quote from: Oshyan on December 20, 2014, 08:23:33 PM
What was your specific network setup when you had Compute Terrain "working through a Default Shader"? Depending on what input you had it going into, it may not have been passing along all necessary data, I suppose. But going through the primary Input node, it should be fine.
Anyway, it's really hard to say what is causing this problem without looking at how you have setup your scene. If you want us to dig into it, you can either post your TGD here, or email it privately to support AT planetside.co.uk and we'll be happy to take a look. One thing I can say is I suspect the odd curved lines in your terrain in the upper-middle-right could be fixed by using Ridge and/or Gully Smoothing in the Tweak Noise tab of the Power Fractal (assuming that's what you're using).
- Oshyan
The problem still seems to persist at weird angles and such and is part of the reflection I have found. Trying to make the surface reflective as real sand is, but it wants to be a 'sheen' of reflection rather then noise.
I hope you're not using Raytraced Reflections, first-off. Then, if you're going for a specular effect (which, by the way, I've only ever seen on wet sand, but I realize you have something in your mind that you reasonably wish to depict), you might want to try experimenting with the Specular Roughness setting, and possibly Highlight Intensity. With very low values for Specular Roughness, you will indeed get very small, defined "sparkles". I'm not certain that's what you want, but it may point you in the right direction.
- Oshyan
Quote from: Oshyan on December 21, 2014, 10:23:41 PM
I hope you're not using Raytraced Reflections, first-off. Then, if you're going for a specular effect (which, by the way, I've only ever seen on wet sand, but I realize you have something in your mind that you reasonably wish to depict), you might want to try experimenting with the Specular Roughness setting, and possibly Highlight Intensity. With very low values for Specular Roughness, you will indeed get very small, defined "sparkles". I'm not certain that's what you want, but it may point you in the right direction.
- Oshyan
Yeah I'm going for desert sunset where you get 'water' like refractions on the horizon. Also, in some pictures of highly fine sand, when low to the ground, you can get refrections of the sky through all the crystal. The main point of the specular was to add random crystal grains reflecting (like in snow) however I could not get the scale small enough, and space out enough (at random intervals; like stars?)
How do I go about turning of Raytraced Reflections? in the GI? I would assume it should be within the reflection settings in case something does not to reflect something in the scene (Ie, snow specular compared to solid ice on water)
Also, remember, when you are attempting something, like a photo-realistic image, EVERYTHING has specular unless it's absolute black (which has only recently been created in labs). It may not be noticeable to a untrained eye. All color is based on specularity. Ambient light doesn't exist in real life. What we call ambient light is just refractions. Like light caught in the clouds and glowing on the surface, just as the sun would (stills rays of light, not ambient light as defined), or light from around a corner refracting off a surface to bend the light rays around the corner by hitting the adjacent wall. Specular refractions from the surface cause that, or it'd be absorbed completely.
For example, the dune effect I'm creating. San at dust is like a ocean
(http://i.imgur.com/LfqkOyp.png)
Without specular, you get flat light, which is not realistic in the least. Same for any object that would be in the scene. Unfortunately, render times and adjusting specular per item.
Technically yes, "everything" (or most things) are specular to some degree. But in rendering you always want to make conscious decisions about what will actually contribute noticeably to the scene. Going the "everything absolutely realistic" route is sometimes possible, but seldom advisable as you almost always end up with render times longer than they need to be.
Anyway, Ray Traced Reflections is an option in the Reflective Shader. It's at the bottom of the Main settings tab. Once disabled, it should speed up rendering quite a lot, and you'll still get specular.
- Oshyan
Quote from: Oshyan on December 22, 2014, 12:36:25 AM
Technically yes, "everything" (or most things) are specular to some degree. But in rendering you always want to make conscious decisions about what will actually contribute noticeably to the scene. Going the "everything absolutely realistic" route is sometimes possible, but seldom advisable as you almost always end up with render times longer than they need to be.
Anyway, Ray Traced Reflections is an option in the Reflective Shader. It's at the bottom of the Main settings tab. Once disabled, it should speed up rendering quite a lot, and you'll still get specular.
- Oshyan
What if you are using a Default Shader for multiple effects?
The Default Shader has an input for Reflectivity Function, which allows you to get more control over the reflectivity. It has a number of other inputs such as Displacement, Translucency, etc. for the same reason. So just use a separate Reflective Shader and feed it into that input on your Default Shader.
- Oshyan
Quote from: Oshyan on December 22, 2014, 01:43:14 AM
The Default Shader has an input for Reflectivity Function, which allows you to get more control over the reflectivity. It has a number of other inputs such as Displacement, Translucency, etc. for the same reason. So just use a separate Reflective Shader and feed it into that input on your Default Shader.
- Oshyan
Oh sweet, thanks for the information Oshyan!
This isn't directed to anyone in particular but why on earth don't people just open stuff up and try it before they ask questions. In the past short while I've seen questions asked that I didn't know the answer to so I opened up whatever was asked about and often it was self explanatory and I had no need to follow the thread; but if it confused me I either just followed/lurked till I understood, or then, if it was a deeper confusion I'd pose a query. Was I like that at the start...so long now I forget.
Quote from: bobbystahr on December 22, 2014, 12:41:35 PM
This isn't directed to anyone in particular but why on earth don't people just open stuff up and try it before they ask questions. In the past short while I've seen questions asked that I didn't know the answer to so I opened up whatever was asked about and often it was self explanatory and I had no need to follow the thread; but if it confused me I either just followed/lurked till I understood, or then, if it was a deeper confusion I'd pose a query. Was I like that at the start...so long now I forget.
Probably not needed to be posted, at all.
The whole point of a forum is its not a damn wiki, dude. We're not to look for past posts, we're here TOO post. Especially when it comes up mid-topic from
someone else.
I've noticed the old users here are pretty much nothing but trolls if not helpful in some area, but usually just sighting links and not imputing any useful information, making yourselves look like assholes, no offense. Not to mention the search feature here does not use Regex and only matches EXACT words making searches bring up no topics more then 80% of the time. Most topics don't contain any information, but posts to other topics, which end up having broken links, or thousands of posts to read through,
instead of re-answering the question so it can be found in multiple formats and IS easy to find for people that do search. Now that's how a forum is filled with relevant and helpful information. This forum is hard to search, let alone get through peoples discussions to find the info they need when someone links them. Boy, if you all ran a school. Lol It'd go bankrupt and probably undergo a class action lawsuit.
If you have a issue with it, I'd suggest spending your time on the Wiki and making a solid contribution to it's information like Planetside wants, probably because most users get some assaine responses from senior users which shut down more then half this forums population as looking through most topics self-evidently shows.
You literally cannot browse any topics without Planetside Forums senior members making themselves, and the community out to be assholes to new users. Especially when less then 10% of the worlds population knows how to function a forum when looking for information on Google (let alone know how to function google)You need to understand every forum is different, every website is different, and most the time people are confused when visiting a website, not automatically familiar. Being a web developer for over 14+ years I am very avid in user relations, and can spot a bad, and dying community from miles away. This community is only alive by it's senior members, who almost religiously make it a point to make new users uncomfortable.
Quote from: WASasquatch on December 22, 2014, 12:55:46 PM
Quote from: bobbystahr on December 22, 2014, 12:41:35 PM
This isn't directed to anyone in particular but why on earth don't people just open stuff up and try it before they ask questions. In the past short while I've seen questions asked that I didn't know the answer to so I opened up whatever was asked about and often it was self explanatory and I had no need to follow the thread; but if it confused me I either just followed/lurked till I understood, or then, if it was a deeper confusion I'd pose a query. Was I like that at the start...so long now I forget.
Probably not needed to be posted, at all.
The whole point of a forum is its not a damn wiki, dude. We're not to look for past posts, we're here TOO post. Especially when it comes up mid-topic from someone else.
I've noticed the old users here are pretty much nothing but trolls if not helpful in some area, but usually just sighting links and not imputing any useful information, making yourselves look like assholes, no offense. Not to mention the search feature here does not use Regex and only matches EXACT words making searches bring up no topics more then 80% of the time. Most topics don't contain any information, but posts to other topics, which end up having broken links, or thousands of posts to read through, instead of re-answering the question so it can be found in multiple formats and IS easy to find for people that do search. Now that's how a forum is filled with relevant and helpful information. This forum is hard to search, let alone get through peoples discussions to find the info they need when someone links them. Boy, if you all ran a school. Lol It'd go bankrupt and probably undergo a class action lawsuit.
If you have a issue with it, I'd suggest spending your time on the Wiki and making a solid contribution to it's information like Planetside wants, probably because most users get some assaine responses from senior users which shut down more then half this forums population as looking through most topics self-evidently shows.
You literally cannot browse any topics without Planetside Forums senior members making themselves, and the community out to be assholes to new users. Especially when less then 10% of the worlds population knows how to function a forum when looking for information on Google (let alone know how to function google)
You need to understand every forum is different, every website is different, and most the time people are confused when visiting a website, not automatically familiar. Being a web developer for over 14+ years I am very avid in user relations, and can spot a bad, and dying community from miles away. This community is only alive by it's senior members, who almost religiously make it a point to make new users uncomfortable.
WOW!
Quote from: Kadri on December 22, 2014, 01:06:57 PM
WOW!
Seriously. The whole point of the Wiki is common issues that need to be gone over. So if someone is asking something answered all the time,
it is your responsibility to post a Wiki entry on it so it's found through Google's highly comprehensive search engine before they ever get here. Otherwise you have no right to bitch about people not finding what they're looking for. So rude. You can't help but expect the same treatment back, especially when the senior users perpetuate the problem with Topic Loops pointing to topic after topic, where information is sporatic at best throughout said linked topics. Instead of bringing the information to one place, or rephrasing the answer and question so it's
better found next time and not topics linking to other topics becoming the things found in searches as well. Lol
How would I have known to plug a "Reflective Surface" into what I already thought was a reflective surface? It actually is not a searchable question. Just like color clipping where you have no idea what is causing it. Both questions I searched for, both come up with nothing. The wiki doesn't explain you can get more control with a Reflective Surface as a function on a Default Shader.
Hmmm... Go figure.
Quote from: WASasquatch on December 22, 2014, 01:25:05 PM
Quote from: Kadri on December 22, 2014, 01:06:57 PM
WOW!
Seriously. The whole point of the Wiki is common issues that need to be gone over. So if someone is asking something answered all the time, it is your responsibility to post a Wiki entry on it so it's found through Google highly comprehensive search engine before they ever get here. Otherwise you have no right to bitch about people not finding what they're looking for. So rude. You can't help but expect the same treatment back, especially when the senior users perpetuate the problem with Topic Loops pointing to topic after topic, where information is sporatic at best throughout said linked topics. Instead of bringing the information to one place, or rephrasing the answer and question so it's better found next time and not topics linking to other topics becoming the things found in searches as well. Lol
How would I have known to plug a "Reflective Surface" into what I already thought was a reflective surface? It actually is not a searchable question. Just like color clipping where you have no idea what is causing it. Both questions I searched for, both come up with nothing. The wiki doesn't explain you can get more control with a Reflective Surface as a function on a Default Shader.
Hmmm... Go figure.
It is not about the Wiki. There is of course room for improvement but my problem is your your attitude.
Other then some very small posts probably, everyone tries to help each other here around in this or that way.
Using words like "assholes" and then anticipating "no offense" ?
You might be good at art maybe but i wouldn't want to work with you at all.
This is the kind of attitude i am more and more alienated from forums.
Quote from: Kadri on December 22, 2014, 01:35:11 PM
Quote from: WASasquatch on December 22, 2014, 01:25:05 PM
Quote from: Kadri on December 22, 2014, 01:06:57 PM
WOW!
Seriously. The whole point of the Wiki is common issues that need to be gone over. So if someone is asking something answered all the time, it is your responsibility to post a Wiki entry on it so it's found through Google highly comprehensive search engine before they ever get here. Otherwise you have no right to bitch about people not finding what they're looking for. So rude. You can't help but expect the same treatment back, especially when the senior users perpetuate the problem with Topic Loops pointing to topic after topic, where information is sporatic at best throughout said linked topics. Instead of bringing the information to one place, or rephrasing the answer and question so it's better found next time and not topics linking to other topics becoming the things found in searches as well. Lol
How would I have known to plug a "Reflective Surface" into what I already thought was a reflective surface? It actually is not a searchable question. Just like color clipping where you have no idea what is causing it. Both questions I searched for, both come up with nothing. The wiki doesn't explain you can get more control with a Reflective Surface as a function on a Default Shader.
Hmmm... Go figure.
It is not about the Wiki. There is of course room for improvement but my problem is your your attitude.
Other then some very small posts probably, everyone tries to help each other here around in this or that way.
Using words like "assholes" and then anticipating "no offense" ?
You might be good at art maybe but i wouldn't want to work with you at all.
This is the kind of attitude i am more and more alienated from forums.
It's to be expected when your art is called "distracting" or, "self-promotion", or when people like to troll you for literally no reason. Especially when in this case, both things are not searchable on this board in any context I can think of, and when you don't know the problem its hard to refine said search to find what you are looking for.
For example I had no idea specular was causing the problem all together and was messing with my PFs and Compute Terrain and terrain order. I had no idea it was specular nor would any search bring that up that I came up with. "Color clipping" is not a common problem. Nor does the wiki about a default shader explain about reflective shaders adding control. Nor do I have an idea in my head of how to search for that when I was unaware to begin with...
All is highly rude and expecting a rude response. It could only expect a rude response. Go look through the forum. Look how new users literally disappear after senior users discourage their questions and aim to learn this software.
You all literally kill dreams. LolI wouldn't want to work with anyone that would be excused from class for being insatiably rude to classmates with questions. "GO look in a book" would be your in class motto, I'm sure.
Read ones more what he wrote and how you responded.
You could have easily said the same thing quite in a same civil way.
There was a response that i felt wasn't needed-in that way at least- i know lately.
I was nearly going to PM him.
But saying that it is all the time here that way is exaggeration to say the least.
That is my problem,not the other parts of knowing this or that.
Looks like when somebody says one thing you answer with 10 things more aggressively.
Anyway i will try to stay away from you threads until you calm down a little.
Quote from: Kadri on December 22, 2014, 01:59:07 PM
Read ones more what he wrote and how you responded.
You could have easily said the same thing quite in a same civil way.
There was a response that i felt wasn't needed-in that way at least- i know lately.
I was nearly going to PM him.
But saying that it is all the time here that way is exaggeration to say the least.
That is my problem,not the other parts of knowing this or that.
Looks like when somebody says one thing you answer with 10 things more aggressively.
Anyway i will try to stay away from you threads until you calm down a little.
You are right, I don't need to go about calling people "assholes" and such. You are 100% right. And I apologize to you all, and Bobbystahr.
But I have read so many posts from users who literally never posted again after the same people say the same thign over and over "why can't people learn to search" which is inherently calling someone stupid. It literally doesn't need to be posted, ever. Just either re-answer the question, or move along.
Accepted, and thank you.
My comment was based on my personal learning experience in this forum and helping folks I know understand computer programs. In general my advise has been click on everything at least once to see what it is and play a bit...don't expect miracles. Then when you need help, well I posted and got help every time, but my requests did not include a critique of everything about TG 2_3 and it's WIP WIKI. That only triggers negative responses from the extremely loyals. Maybe that's what ticked me off a bit as I found this one of the most helpful and friendly forums I've been to. As a colour blind artist everyone even accepts my use of image maps over procedurals without comment. And re: my Math-Disability(never got through school because of my hair) Any query I submit re: the maths is answered with great patience and the odd suggestion I brush up but at 66 I figger to die before I grok math at that level so I continue as I have been.
I'm not unfamiliar with Forums BTW, as I Moderated at renderosity for 7 years and as I previously mentioned there was a running battle tween the pro and con image taggers in the forums, I was obviously con and most of the staff were as well...seemed pointless when we had galleries for that kind of thing and a large image is way more exciting to view than a small image living at the bottom of a text box.
Guess that's the last I've got to input into the chat
Except for the unneeded emotion, I tend to agree with WASasquatch's critique. People say things like "just try it" way too much (it always sounds likeFU, to me). Its a totally useless response. And I have also wanted to punch people in the mouth when I read it.
If it were not for people personally taking time to help me I would have gotten NO WHERE, using this forum. Trying TG at random is a complete waste of time, unless thats what you like to do. There is no reason at all to spend weeks and months learning answers to questions that are already known (hence the invention of books) Telling someone the answer, and then them doing it, is the same as learning on ones own, but way way faster and more productive.
But having said that, the fact that people take their own personal time to help me (including planetside staff!), says a lot about this community. A lot! I have never gotten the personal attention from other software forums that I get here, and see others get here everyday. Every single day.
But if you have been through the threads here you would know that not one single thing you said is new. It has been complained about by everyone, especially the "senior" users, at length and many many times. So people are more just tired to re-type everything, every time someone new comes in and asks the same questions for the millionth time. And a link is more helpful than no response at all.
So yes crit of the search function is valid. Everyone here knows that. But the search is not the only problem. People too often make subject headings that make no sense, further reducing the effectiveness of a search. And everyone here knows that as well, but keep doing it.
This forum, if other forums work the same or not, is almost entirely relationship based. Meaning you don't kiss asses. But you try to understand them and just except them. You will get the same back from everyone!
we are all 100% volunteers. Planetside is only 2 people right now, with a 3rd who works part time. They have to spend their time on the software. So yeah its up to us to make the forum better. But that is not our "responsibility", it is our hobby.
We are all just as passionate as you.
Anyway, I hope you take the time to get to know everyone here. I think you would regret your initial anger when you do. Everyone here is better people than you will know from just a few threads! And we all fight with each other from time to time anyway... That anyone can be an ass sometimes does not mean that they are not still awesome people (for my sake, I hope so)
Lastly, I want to say that I have felt every single emotion you expressed in your posts. But when I started we did not have all the tuts that we have now. Maybe you will save yourself a lot of the same suffering that most of us went through if you go to the geekatplay site and do all of the TG tuts there? I WISH, that those had been available when I started. I would be so much further along now.
I think that you will be a good addition here. You already are sharing good work and good files!! The rest of this is old news.
...
About the tag. If you like it keep it, and dont let anyone bully you. But truthfully, though it is allowed, do you see anyone else use it? It is IMO pretty visually distracting when reading a thread. But the only real problem, is that it appears in every single post in every single thread that you post in from now until the end of time, over and over and over. It is irritating.
IMO
PS,
Now that this is all posted, a troll WILL see it, and use the tag thing deliberately try to piss everyone off. Imagine that guy who wants to kill every muslim return with a giant tag in every thread. Or the one who said he built a render farm out of old used PCs he found at goodwill stores (that one still makes me giggle ;D)
A photo bomb is inevitable now.
sigh
Really, you sounded, like you have had a really bad day, and had to let off some steam.
You should really take your time when writing posts. Something like:
"...I am very avid in user relations, and can spot a bad, and dying community (!!!) from miles away. This community is only alive by it's senior members, who almost religiously make it a point to make new users uncomfortable." is really a slap in a senior troll's face.
OK, I really appreciate your apologies. Hats off! Be gentle!
Btw, I'm looking forward to all the fresh meat I can make feel uncomfortable. Amen. Troll's word of honour. ;) ;) ;)
Quote from: TheBadger on December 22, 2014, 04:58:45 PM
PS,
Now that this is all posted, a troll WILL see it, and use the tag thing deliberately try to piss everyone off. Imagine that guy who wants to kill every muslim return with a giant tag in every thread. Or the one who said he built a render farm out of old used PCs he found at goodwill stores (that one still makes me giggle ;D)
A photo bomb is inevitable now.
sigh
I really don't get how having a tag image, and someone then creating a ultimately offensive image has anything negative against its principles, that's just some crazy person being offensive and weird and abusing something. Like links in signatures that can link to malware and all sorts of nasty stuff.
Everything aside, no, it has not been the best day, but let's not get into personal life issues... Lol :-X
You can vent here! Just in open. I do it all the time ;D :-\ :-X
To me you were like a new guest arriving at a pleasant party shouting "Here I am, me, see, look at me, there is not enough wine!" Pisses me off. Like said by others, you can't expect things, they are as they are, and if you don't like it, leave. We all do our best (the amazing staff, and we volunteers), but we like to keep it pleasant and positive. People like you take away my enthusiasm to help, so I hope things will get back to before from now.
Not aimed at you, Michael ;)
Couldn't have been said better Ulco. :-X
Everyone good now? I hope so. No need for harsh words, we're all friends here. :)
Sasquatch, we'd like to improve the search, but this forum system doesn't have a great one. We actually have a plugin installed that improves on the default, and that still isn't as good as we'd like. Switching forum systems would be a major undertaking, so it's something we do have to live with to some degree. That being said the majority of the contents is indexed by Google, and many other forums (that use the system we use, SMF, as well as other systems from phpBB to vBulletin and more) have decided to make available custom Google searches of their own forum content right from the forum pages. So that's something we can consider. In the meantime, maybe bookmark this?
https://www.google.com/#q=yourquery+site:http:%2F%2Fwww.planetside.co.uk%2Fforums%2F
:D
- Oshyan
Quote from: WASasquatch on December 22, 2014, 02:24:53 AM
Quote from: Oshyan on December 22, 2014, 01:43:14 AM
The Default Shader has an input for Reflectivity Function, which allows you to get more control over the reflectivity. It has a number of other inputs such as Displacement, Translucency, etc. for the same reason. So just use a separate Reflective Shader and feed it into that input on your Default Shader.
- Oshyan
Oh sweet, thanks for the information Oshyan!
That isn't quite right. You don't want to plug a reflective shader into reflectivity function; that's not going to work.
The Defauly Shader's reflectivity works exactly like the Reflective Shader with ray-traced reflections turned off. It will give you specular reflections of primary light sources (e.g. Sunlight) and also uses the GI cache to approximate soft reflections of the environment. If this is what you want, the Default Shader will do just as good a job as the Reflective Shader. I'm not able to see right now whether it has separate control over highlight intensity, however.
Matt
Hah, my brilliant tip rendered null and void. I admit, I was going from memory as well. *eek* Well, it sounds as if there might be a bug here then, given the artifacts that are happening? Can you email the scene file to us perhaps? support@planetside.co.uk
- Oshyan
The main thing that the Default Shader's built-in reflectivity doesn't have is the ray-traced reflection option. So if you want that, you would chain a Reflective Shader after the Default Shader to use the Ref. Shader to achieve your reflections; that might be what you're remembering Oshyan.
Matt
Quote from: Oshyan on December 23, 2014, 09:07:27 PM
Everyone good now? I hope so. No need for harsh words, we're all friends here. :)
Sasquatch, we'd like to improve the search, but this forum system doesn't have a great one. We actually have a plugin installed that improves on the default, and that still isn't as good as we'd like. Switching forum systems would be a major undertaking, so it's something we do have to live with to some degree. That being said the majority of the contents is indexed by Google, and many other forums (that use the system we use, SMF, as well as other systems from phpBB to vBulletin and more) have decided to make available custom Google searches of their own forum content right from the forum pages. So that's something we can consider. In the meantime, maybe bookmark this?
https://www.google.com/#q=yourquery+site:http:%2F%2Fwww.planetside.co.uk%2Fforums%2F
:D
- Oshyan
Yes, I am good.
What mods do you have installed all together? Do you know. I can install said mods on a fresh copy of this version of SMF, and try and improve the search. I am a PHP developer (IP.Board 1.0.1 - 1.3.1 Final / vBulletin Support / BoonEx) and considering this is just a clone of IP.Board and phpBB fused together, I don't see it being too difficult.
Only reason I had the comments I had. You can complain and call me out as the problem maker, but I am paid to fix Social Communities and write rules of conduct, all the way to the features those users make down to UX design. Been doing it for years, and while I may have walked into a party demanding, it's only because the party was lacking anything that make a party, and the hosts were telling me to go to the store instead of being hosts. :P I don't like links to other topics. They render a post inert and take up MySQL memory, CPU, and Space. So make each post a resource to learn from imo.
If I was a mod here I'd have removed almost a quarter of the posts from this forum because they're either embarrassing of the community (fights like these from users like me), and redundant topics just taking up space and search results; making new users uncomfortable or just going off on them when they may not even know how to work their browser correctly let alone a under-used forum like SMF.
Oshyan's link to use Google brings up about 25% useful links and the rest redundant topics of links going elsewhere, or just "use the search engine!" lolSo a lot of the problem now is users too used to the search engine causing havoc on what the search engine is for, finding useful information. So a lot of it is topics pointing to other topics, or not even that benefit and just a lecture from a senior member on using the search engine. These posts even come up before the posts of actual information regarding the search term like "Fake Stones" etc.
Quote from: Matt on December 23, 2014, 10:18:48 PM
The main thing that the Default Shader's built-in reflectivity doesn't have is the ray-traced reflection option. So if you want that, you would chain a Reflective Shader after the Default Shader to use the Ref. Shader to achieve your reflections; that might be what you're remembering Oshyan.
Matt
I actually sort of figured this from the beginning as with reflect to 1 with everything max, there was never any 'reflections' just color refraction.
My PSU fried due to a render with a typo in settings causing CPU and RAM to peak the entire time. So I am waiting on a replacement and seeing how much rendering this Rasberry Pi can do before it busts. Lol it was free, w/e.
I'm reworking my desert scene now and will try to revise my vision. However already having issues with sand dunes. Did get some nice distant mountains looking very 'tatooine' like haha
Not sure if this is possible but might be:
We might have a tab(tabs) under the search. Like there is a tab for "Fake stones" for example and all earlier topics that are discussing this matter are linked there?
I'm not sure what your idea is, really. But it sounds like it would take some coding, which we can't do (WASasquatch has offered, however...), and it's not clear to me how it would differ from normal search results.
- Oshyan