Itoo Software Forum

RailClone => RailClone Pro (*) => Topic started by: DT on September 20, 2015, 11:29:36 PM

Title: Roof; clipping issues.
Post by: DT on September 20, 2015, 11:29:36 PM
Hi there. I have some issues with a roof I'm working on, that is quite 'complex'. I've highlighted the area.

(http://i.imgur.com/MZmglky.jpg?1)

When I used Z rotation and didn't align my RC object with the roof the clipping area was the projection along Z. That was a bit better but there were other mistakes. Ideally I could hide this with something like this:

(http://i.imgur.com/qkiuX27.jpg?1)

But I haven't gotten my head around on how to do it. Either way if there's a way to cover a hole like that easily I'd like to know, I'm kind of struggeling here.

(http://i.imgur.com/g5ZpYk1.jpg?1)

Also it's quite to difficult to line everything up more or less.

(http://i.imgur.com/wUldTD1.jpg?1)

I've attached the max file. If anyone could take a look that would be nice :)
Title: Re: Roof; clipping issues.
Post by: DT on September 22, 2015, 09:33:19 AM
Anybody?  :-\ I'm kind of on a tight deadline by the end of the week. I already solved some other issues concerning how the last 4 rows should act. But the corners are still quite a mess.
Title: Re: Roof; clipping issues.
Post by: Paul Roberts on September 22, 2015, 12:20:25 PM
Hi,

Please accept my apologies. I am looking at this issue right now and I'll post a more detailed reply very shortly.

Many thanks,

Paul.
Title: Re: Roof; clipping issues.
Post by: DT on September 22, 2015, 01:43:13 PM
As always thank you Paul. Eagerly awaiting  :D
Title: Re: Roof; clipping issues.
Post by: Paul Roberts on September 22, 2015, 05:13:41 PM
Hi,

I've run a few experiments here and I think the easiest solution in this case is going to be to create a few new RailClone styles to create the hip tiles and valleys.

(http://i.imgur.com/XH8KgbB.png)

At the moment I can't find a satisfactory solution that adds these elements automatically, so I'd recommend you use linear arrays to create a line of hip tiles as per the example shown in your image (alternatively you could model a custom hip tile, but each hip with a different angle would need its own tile). This can however reuse the existing splines that are already used to define each roof area. To ensure the hips only apply to the correct part of the spline, set material IDs on the path and use the Generator's Limit By Material ID  (http://docs.itoosoft.com/display/RAILCLONE/1D+arrays+-+Generator+L1S#id-1Darrays-GeneratorL1S-Limits)options.

(http://docs.itoosoft.com/download/attachments/10092636/image2015-3-4%2010%3A38%3A22.png?version=1&modificationDate=1428479838000&api=v2)

In the attached file you'll find an example style called rc_ridge_and_hip. It has many exported controls so you can adjust the angle between the two roof faces, tile overlap, rotation material ID and more.

To create the Valleys is a little more of a challenge. I've worked on the assumption that you need to cut the tiles back either side of the valley and add a kind of gutter (in the UK they are often lead lined). To do this you could adjust the shape of the existing splines to create a gap, but I've tried something a little different that used the VRayDistanceTex material to create a render-time boolean.

To do this create a RailClone object that stretches a simple box along the spline, turning on Weld Vertices to ensure it is a solid object. Any geometry that falls inside this box will be removed from the render. In the example scene this is called rc_valley_cutter. Next instance a V-RayDistanceTex map to the opacity slot of all the tile materials.

(http://i.imgur.com/7K3c3tD.png)

Turn on Inside Separate and set the distance to 0cm. Add all the RailClone objects that are being used to cut out the valleys to the DistanceTexture's Objects list.

(http://i.imgur.com/xqs2x22.png)

If you render now, any geometry that is inside the RailClone objects is invisible.

You can then use the same spline to add the valley details. This should be a simple L1S array, again limited to particular parts of the roof using material IDs.  in the attached example scene there is an example called rc_valley.

(http://i.imgur.com/OyiOY8o.jpg)

I hope that helps, please let me know if there's anything else I can do. I'm keen to explore the use for RailClone for roofs so any feedback is valuable.

Many thanks,

Paul





Title: Re: Roof; clipping issues.
Post by: DT on September 22, 2015, 06:53:38 PM
Waaw Paul. That is more explanation than I expected. Amazing. I'll give this a shot and post my findings here. I might do another roof tutorial when I'm done with this project, this tip will certainly come in handy.  ;D

Thank you!

Kind regards.

A.
Title: Re: Roof; clipping issues.
Post by: TL1895 on May 20, 2016, 07:02:56 PM
Hi Itoo,

Just wondering if you mind posting a max 2014 scene, please?
I try to open it to learn, and it crashes max2014 every time.

Thanks!
TL1895
Title: Re: Roof; clipping issues.
Post by: Paul Roberts on May 23, 2016, 10:13:17 AM
Hi!

Here's the file in 2014 format. Please let me know if you still have a problem.

Thanks!

Paul.
Title: Re: Roof; clipping issues.
Post by: TL1895 on May 23, 2016, 02:02:05 PM
Thank you!
Title: Re: Roof; clipping issues.
Post by: TL1895 on May 23, 2016, 09:56:16 PM
no go, it still crashes, can you open it in 2014?
Thanks
Title: Re: Roof; clipping issues.
Post by: Paul Roberts on May 24, 2016, 01:01:30 PM
Sorry about that, it was crashing for me in 2013 too ( I don't have 2014 here).  Give this version a go. I've taken a few maps away that I think were causing compatibility issues.

Thanks!

Paul
Title: Re: Roof; clipping issues.
Post by: TL1895 on May 24, 2016, 03:36:21 PM
Thanks again, it works great now!