Apply Textures After Subdivision Preview is Calculated

Stiglr · 3rd March 2011, 12:57 PM

Well, it may be a personal preference to do it one way, but you still have to deal with things as they are. And, every time you remap an object in the TCE, you get results based on whatever level of subdivision you have going at the time. That only makes logical sense. You can't expect the TCE to show you levels of subdivision you haven't committed to, or haven't performed, can you?

What you can try is, if it's only a certain area that's important, just select those surfaces and remap them from the desired angle. Still, this is going to create distortion because you're not going to get "agreement" on where vertices and surfaces meet. But, if the distortion is minor, you can always (painstakingly) work within the TCE to "snap together" vertices and restore visual order that way. Try it, it might work for you. However, it's never going to be preferable to just committing to a final remapping whenever you have to.

Also, your idea of saving various versions of your model is a GREAT idea. File sizes for AC3D files are small, so it's no skin off your nose to have five or six versions of a working model. When I use AC3D to build aircraft, I save a "bookmark" model at each important stage once I'm satisfied with it. So, I'll save a "fuselage" version, a "wings" version, a version with "wheel wells and landing gear cut out", etc. So, if I get further down the road and figure I've totally blown it past a certain point, I can always revert to that earlier version and just start from that interim point, hopefully applying any lessons I've just learned from my recent mistakes. Better to have to redo a major process with new knowledge than to go through the hassle of trying to fix something you've irrevocably "fubared". Or, to have to totally start over from scratch!

One thing you said in your post is important: "seeing textures on the fly". It's true that it's a good thing to be able to get a rough idea of how a texture will or won't work as you model... but, if you have an expectation that what you're seeing is a "rough idea" and won't be a finished process until you actually finish all your subdividing and mesh editing... well, then this all works properly. Said another way, realize that until you commit to your final mesh, you won't be able to commit to a final texture mapping either.

Edymnion · 3rd March 2011, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stiglr

Well, it may be a personal preference to do it one way, but you still have to deal with things as they are.

This is not an appropriate comment for this forum.

This is the Suggestions forum. It's explicit purpose is to accept user feedback on features and/or abilities they would like to see added to AC3D, or changes to existing features already in place.

You do not have to agree that a request be sensible or a priority, but you do need to respect the right of other posters to use this forum for it's intended purpose.

Andy · 3rd March 2011, 05:46 PM

The situation here is that that the texture coordinates are associated with the vertices of the top level (non-subdivded) object. When a subdivision happens, new vertices are created and positioned to form the new subdivision shape. The texture coordinates for the new shape are interpolated from the original vertices and, as you've discovered, they may not be exactly where you want them due to the nature of subdivisions distorting the new shape.

It's not a bug, AC3D does its best to create 'virtual' texture coordintes. I don't know of a way to improve this (there may be one I'm not aware of any) so it's best to use the interpolated texturing as a guide until you are ready to commit the subdivision and adjust the textures.

Please do keep the suggestions coming. They are looked at and many do get implemented.

Stiglr · 3rd March 2011, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edymnion

This is not an appropriate comment for this forum.

This is the Suggestions forum. It's explicit purpose is to accept user feedback on features and/or abilities they would like to see added to AC3D, or changes to existing features already in place.

You do not have to agree that a request be sensible or a priority, but you do need to respect the right of other posters to use this forum for it's intended purpose.

Point taken. I had forgotten this was in the Suggestions area, and was trying to treat it as a "question" instead. My bad....

3rd March 2011, 12:57 PM	#1
Stiglr Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 604	Re: Apply Textures After Subdivision Preview is Calculated Well, it may be a personal preference to do it one way, but you still have to deal with things as they are. And, every time you remap an object in the TCE, you get results based on whatever level of subdivision you have going at the time. That only makes logical sense. You can't expect the TCE to show you levels of subdivision you haven't committed to, or haven't performed, can you? What you can try is, if it's only a certain area that's important, just select those surfaces and remap them from the desired angle. Still, this is going to create distortion because you're not going to get "agreement" on where vertices and surfaces meet. But, if the distortion is minor, you can always (painstakingly) work within the TCE to "snap together" vertices and restore visual order that way. Try it, it might work for you. However, it's never going to be preferable to just committing to a final remapping whenever you have to. Also, your idea of saving various versions of your model is a GREAT idea. File sizes for AC3D files are small, so it's no skin off your nose to have five or six versions of a working model. When I use AC3D to build aircraft, I save a "bookmark" model at each important stage once I'm satisfied with it. So, I'll save a "fuselage" version, a "wings" version, a version with "wheel wells and landing gear cut out", etc. So, if I get further down the road and figure I've totally blown it past a certain point, I can always revert to that earlier version and just start from that interim point, hopefully applying any lessons I've just learned from my recent mistakes. Better to have to redo a major process with new knowledge than to go through the hassle of trying to fix something you've irrevocably "fubared". Or, to have to totally start over from scratch! One thing you said in your post is important: "seeing textures on the fly". It's true that it's a good thing to be able to get a rough idea of how a texture will or won't work as you model... but, if you have an expectation that what you're seeing is a "rough idea" and won't be a finished process until you actually finish all your subdividing and mesh editing... well, then this all works properly. Said another way, realize that until you commit to your final mesh, you won't be able to commit to a final texture mapping either. __________________ Flight Sim Project Contributor My Gaming Rig: i5 2500K Quad-Core CPU at 3.3GHz MSI P67A-C43 mobo 4GB of PC12800 DDR3 memory Windows 7 1GB Galaxy GeForce GTX550 Ti video card GeForce 270.61 drivers (4/2011) Cougar joystick/throttle combo CH Pedals Last edited by Stiglr; 3rd March 2011 at 01:02 PM.

3rd March 2011, 05:46 PM	#3
Andy Administrator Professional user Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 4,565	Re: Apply Textures After Subdivision Preview is Calculated The situation here is that that the texture coordinates are associated with the vertices of the top level (non-subdivded) object. When a subdivision happens, new vertices are created and positioned to form the new subdivision shape. The texture coordinates for the new shape are interpolated from the original vertices and, as you've discovered, they may not be exactly where you want them due to the nature of subdivisions distorting the new shape. It's not a bug, AC3D does its best to create 'virtual' texture coordintes. I don't know of a way to improve this (there may be one I'm not aware of any) so it's best to use the interpolated texturing as a guide until you are ready to commit the subdivision and adjust the textures. Please do keep the suggestions coming. They are looked at and many do get implemented.