Mixing Materials Using Vertex Colors or Vertex Groups

Use this forum for general user support and related questions.
Forum rules
Please upload a testscene that allows developers to reproduce the problem, and attach some images.
Post Reply
CEROE
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 11:34 pm

Mixing Materials Using Vertex Colors or Vertex Groups

Post by CEROE »

In there a way to input vertex information to mix materials for LuxCore? In Cycles there is the Attribute node.

An example of usage: The Grove assigns vertex data when trees are created such as Shade, Thickness, Dead, etc. In Cycles I can create a single material that mixes different bark textures depending on the vertex information. (Trunk bark is different than branch bark. Dead branches have dead bark.) This makes it very quick and easy to add different textures for the entire tree.
CEROE
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 11:34 pm

Re: Mixing Materials Using Vertex Colors or Vertex Groups

Post by CEROE »

I see this question has come up before: http: viewtopic.php?t=610
User avatar
B.Y.O.B.
Developer
Developer
Posts: 4146
Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2017 10:08 pm
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Mixing Materials Using Vertex Colors or Vertex Groups

Post by B.Y.O.B. »

The vertex color texture can be found in the add node menu: Add -> Texture -> Vertex Color (near the bottom of the list).
Vertex groups are not accessible in materials.
CEROE
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 11:34 pm

Re: Mixing Materials Using Vertex Colors or Vertex Groups

Post by CEROE »

I don't see any way to assign a specific Vertex Color map in a Vertex Color node. Is it only possible to use one Vertex Color layer at a time?

Node setup below works...
Screen Shot 2019-01-11 at 9.19.37 AM.png
..., but only for the active Vertex Color layer:
Screen Shot 2019-01-11 at 9.20.43 AM.png
In Cycles it is possible to mix several Vertex Color layers in one material:
Screen Shot 2019-01-11 at 9.43.32 AM.png
User avatar
B.Y.O.B.
Developer
Developer
Posts: 4146
Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2017 10:08 pm
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Mixing Materials Using Vertex Colors or Vertex Groups

Post by B.Y.O.B. »

LuxCore only supports one vertex color layer per mesh.
You will have to make do with the three RGB channels.
However, multiple vertex color layers are logged as a feature request if I remember correctly.
CEROE
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 11:34 pm

Re: Mixing Materials Using Vertex Colors or Vertex Groups

Post by CEROE »

Thank you for your responses B.Y.O.B. I suppose one using one vertex color layer is better than none at all! :)

I tried Luxrender a few years ago, but reverted back to Cycles. LuxCore seems to be so much more user friendly. Appreciate your work on it.

Quick additional question: Is there a way to make the background transparent in LuxCore?
User avatar
B.Y.O.B.
Developer
Developer
Posts: 4146
Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2017 10:08 pm
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Mixing Materials Using Vertex Colors or Vertex Groups

Post by B.Y.O.B. »

CEROE wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 7:37 pm I tried Luxrender a few years ago, but reverted back to Cycles. LuxCore seems to be so much more user friendly. Appreciate your work on it.
Thanks, glad you like it.
CEROE wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 7:37 pm Quick additional question: Is there a way to make the background transparent in LuxCore?
Yes, camera properties, imagepipeline panel. There's a checkbox called "Transparent" or so.
CEROE
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 11:34 pm

Re: Mixing Materials Using Vertex Colors or Vertex Groups

Post by CEROE »

"Transparent Film"

Got it, thank you!
Post Reply