Fake Stones Color.

[choronr]

It seems each time I introduce Fake Stones (from NWDA and others) into a project, they seem pick up the color of the main terrain. I'm sure the answer to this is probably simple; but, through various experimenting trying to prevent this, I have yet to find a remedy. I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.

Bob

[neuspadrin]

Sure you got your layers in the proper order?

[choronr]

Sure you got your layers in the proper order?

Yes I do. The stones are connected to the last layer (as a child) in the array. 

[neuspadrin]

maybe upload a (non nwda'd) tgd of just some fake stones and the problem your having?

or a screenshot of your nodes and such?

[FrankB]

We have discussed this problem in the past already. Check all surface layers if smoothing is enabled, Bob. If yes, add a compute terrain with a relatively small patch size before the fake stone layer. If this doesn't help, send me your tgd then I can have a look. I will do my best to explain to you why this happens, but you need to promise me to remember it this time

Cheers,
Frank

[choronr]

We have discussed this problem in the past already. Check all surface layers if smoothing is enabled, Bob. If yes, add a compute terrain with a relatively small patch size before the fake stone layer. If this doesn't help, send me your tgd then I can have a look. I will do my best to explain to you why this happens, but you need to promise me to remember it this time

Cheers,
Frank

Thank you Frank, I have sent you the file. Hopefully there is a better solution here.

Bob

[FrankB]

I found the source of the issue you were having, and I'm explaning the solution here for everyone:

If you have fake stones as a child of a surface layer, and you want the stones to have their own color, do not use slope constraints in the surface layer! SLope constraints and fake stones don't go well together. Also slope constraints and intersect underlyong don't go well together, but that's another issue.

If you still want to apply a slope constraint, here's one way of doing it:
The solution is to add a slope constraint to the distribution mask of the fake stones itself, not to the surface layer it plugs in to. And the slope mask must be created with a distribution shader with the slope key "terrain normal". The distribution shader must be fed by the last compute terrain to become aware of the terrain and its slopes.

There may even be a simpler solution than that, but it works for me.

Regards,
Frank

[neuspadrin]

Ahh that makes sense.  I've done that accidentally before and realized it was using the slope of the rock, causing issues

[choronr]

I found the source of the issue you were having, and I'm explaning the solution here for everyone:

If you have fake stones as a child of a surface layer, and you want the stones to have their own color, do not use slope constraints in the surface layer! SLope constraints and fake stones don't go well together. Also slope constraints and intersect underlyong don't go well together, but that's another issue.

If you still want to apply a slope constraint, here's one way of doing it:
The solution is to add a slope constraint to the distribution mask of the fake stones itself, not to the surface layer it plugs in to. And the slope mask must be created with a distribution shader with the slope key "terrain normal". The distribution shader must be fed by the last compute terrain to become aware of the terrain and its slopes.

There may even be a simpler solution than that, but it works for me.

Regards,
Frank

Hi Frank,

I very much appreciate what you have explained and provided here. I wish I were gifted with that second nature logic which you employ while working TG2. Each project I do unfolds new challenges; and, you've shed a lot of light on the obvious for me - thank you very much.

I'll report back with the results of my final progress on my current project soon.

Bob

[Henry Blewer]

Bookmarked this for reference. I have had difficulties with fake stones also. I had a hunch it was slope constraints, but I did not know how to fix this.

[choronr]

Ok, it seems I've overcome the stones/color issue; but, ran into another problem: 'white' is appearing on all the stones/rocks. I've gone over all the possibilities (surface layer; fractals; fake stones; power farctals; etc.) Tried all kinds of 'withs' and withouts' and still can not overcome the white creeping into stones/rocks. I can't seem to find the source of this white either! Attached the .tgd if you want to have a look. This issue happens once in awhile on other projects as well; but, never have been able to trace the source.

Bob

[Henry Blewer]

I had the same problem. The last tab of the fake stones shader has the 'base' color picker.

[choronr]

I had the same problem. The last tab of the fake stones shader has the 'base' color picker.

The stones are colored with a Power fractal. I tried it both ways; with color picker; and, with power fractal ...get white both ways.

[Henry Blewer]

Can you post a clip file of the fake stone shader and the attached nodes? I am curious why this is happening.

[choronr]

Can you post a clip file of the fake stone shader and the attached nodes? I am curious why this is happening.

I did include a .tgd file of the project. In it is all the fake stones with it's surface shader. Check this out. If it don't help, I'll send the clip file. Let me know.