help- questions about textures

[babu357]

HI. I've created objects and recolored before but I still have a lot to learn. Right now I wanted to make a pillow. I know there's a lot already out there but I wanted a certain type. Anyway,
I looked for an object to clone and change the mesh to my own, I usually use a vase or something like that for any decorative object. But that must have a shine to the assigned to that texture, because the pillow looks very light in the preview. So that lead me to the question..how do you change the reflectiveness of an object?
I know I can choose another an object to clone..in fact I looked at someone else's pillow in SIMP PE and I saw that they had used a rug..
But I am still curious about how to change whether an object is matt or gloss.
I also wanted to know if there was a tut or something about adding multiple textures to an object. So, that you have several different choices for colors.
Any Help Appreciated.
Babu

[Numenor]

Select the TXMT (Material Definition) related to the object surface and look for the "reflectivity" parameter; the value can range from 0 to 1 (decimals are accepted), but keep in mind this strange behaviour:
- low levels of "reflectivity" (0.1 - 0.5) make the surface appear glossy;
- high levels of "reflectivity" (0.5 - 1.0) make the surface look matte;
- reflectivity = 0 means no reflectivity at all (I advice not to set the value to zero, anyway; better using a very high value such as 0.9 or 1.0).

Also, check the "stdMatEnvCubeMode" parameter: in order to have a matte look, it must be set to "none".

[babu357]

Select the TXMT (Material Definition) related to the object surface and look for the "reflectivity" parameter; the value can range from 0 to 1 (decimals are accepted), but keep in mind this strange behaviour:
- low levels of "reflectivity" (0.1 - 0.5) make the surface appear glossy;
- high levels of "reflectivity" (0.5 - 1.0) make the surface look matte;
- reflectivity = 0 means no reflectivity at all (I advice not to set the value to zero, anyway; better using a very high value such as 0.9 or 1.0).

Also, check the "stdMatEnvCubeMode" parameter: in order to have a matte look, it must be set to "none".
thanks so much;)
would you happen to know about the second question I had...
i want to have several choices of textures for one mesh. So I was looking for instructions on how to add additional textures to an object that originally has only one texture, like the oriental vase for example.
babu

[Numenor]

You simply have to create recolours for your object. Of course, your clone must be recolourable, and this can be obtained cloning an object that - originally, or thanks to the CEP - is already recolourable.
After creating your recolourable clone, containing only one default texture, you can then create additional recolours, and modify the TXMT inside the recolour package as explained earlier.
IMPORTANT: it's not possible to set the object to apply a matte/glossy effect on all the possible recolours; each recolour can either be glossy OR matte.

NOTS: I strongly discourage putting several alternative textures into the mesh package, because if the user doesn't like one of them, and deletes it, the entire mesh, along with all the other recolours, will be deleted.

[babu357]

You simply have to create recolours for your object. Of course, your clone must be recolourable, and this can be obtained cloning an object that - originally, or thanks to the CEP - is already recolourable.
After creating your recolourable clone, containing only one default texture, you can then create additional recolours, and modify the TXMT inside the recolour package as explained earlier.
IMPORTANT: it's not possible to set the object to apply a matte/glossy effect on all the possible recolours; each recolour can either be glossy OR matte.

NOTS: I strongly discourage putting several alternative textures into the mesh package, because if the user doesn't like one of them, and deletes it, the entire mesh, along with all the other recolours, will be deleted.
OH I see. Yeah that makes sense.
I'm still confused about how to create moer than one recolor of one package..
I mean each object has to have it's own guide , and i heard that you shoulnd't clone the same package over and over and just change the guide so how do I get the new package (Clone) to recolor into several different packages..
I also notice that when people offer up recolors for a new mesh you'll get the mesh package which contains the GMDC, and then all of the recolors just contian the texture, no GMDC. I don't really understand how to do that.
I mean, how you have your mesh in one package and your recolors in separate packages.
I hope all of this isnt too confusing to follow. I'm realy still new at this. I might be getting several things confused. I thank you for the help you'v e already given.:)
Hope you might be able to help untangle this mess.;)
Babu

[Numenor]

Don't confuse clones and recolours.

Clones are a full copy of an object, and you must register a new GUID for it to work; the clone should contain ONE default texture (for each part of the mesh): this way, putting the mesh in the downloads is enough to see the object in catalog.

Recolours are additional colours purposely created for a specific object; the recolour packages do NOT contain any GUID and can only be applied to the object they have been created for. Each recolour package contains only one recolour: if you want more alternative colours, you have to create many separate recolour packages.

When you start Object Workshop, click "Open..." and then load your custom clone; then choose "Recolour" from the drop-down menu, and SimPe will create a recolour package, instead of a clone.
When the recolour package is created, you only have to replace the textures in it.

[babu357]

Don't confuse clones and recolours.

Clones are a full copy of an object, and you must register a new GUID for it to work; the clone should contain ONE default texture (for each part of the mesh): this way, putting the mesh in the downloads is enough to see the object in catalog.

Recolours are additional colours purposely created for a specific object; the recolour packages do NOT contain any GUID and can only be applied to the object they have been created for. Each recolour package contains only one recolour: if you want more alternative colours, you have to create many separate recolour packages.

When you start Object Workshop, click "Open..." and then load your custom clone; then choose "Recolour" from the drop-down menu, and SimPe will create a recolour package, instead of a clone.
When the recolour package is created, you only have to replace the textures in it.
OH okay thanks.I'm learning a lot here, so if you care to answers some more questions I'd appreciate it.
If I were to create my own mesh, and want to offer several recolors of it, I would clone an item, like say a vase, and use my new mesh to relplace the original. So ,then I would get a new guide and have a new package with my own mesh. right so far?
assuming that I am, Then I want to offer several recolors of that same object. So how would I go about doing that . SInce my newly created mesh would not be available for recoloring through SMIPE as you mentioned above.
I'm having the same problem when I want to create a recolor of someone else's new mesh. I don't know how to go about that because I can't use SIMPE to create a recolor package from CC. I'm guessing I have to create my own but I don't knwo how to do that.
All your help is greatly appreciated.
thanks,:up:
Babu

[Numenor]

Read my last sentence, about clicking "Open..." in Object Workshop: THAT is the way to recolour custom content (as opposed to recolouring Maxis objects, that requires clicking "Start" in Object Workshop).
When you click "Open..." you can load any custom-created package existing on your computer, and create a recolour package for it (providing that the custom object IS recolourable, of course).

[babu357]

Read my last sentence, about clicking "Open..." in Object Workshop: THAT is the way to recolour custom content (as opposed to recolouring Maxis objects, that requires clicking "Start" in Object Workshop).
When you click "Open..." you can load any custom-created package existing on your computer, and create a recolour package for it (providing that the custom object IS recolourable, of course).
Oh I'm sorry Ididn't realize you said "custom" clone, I thought you just said clone. I didn't think you could use SIM PE to recolor a custom object so I guess my mind just skipped over the custom part. I get a little ADD-ish sometimes. thanks. I''ll try that!:)
Babu