Vertex Blending in DR

[Obsttorte]

my poor English isn't responsible in this instance, 'sup' is a shortened version of "what's up"

Didn't know that. Sorry.

[PranQster]

Sup dawg, d'inch u no dat?

 

Edit: winky-smiley added.

Edited October 6, 2013 by PranQster

[Sotha]

Is it possible to adjust the texture scales in the vertex blending technique?

[Obsttorte]

Yes. Add

scale X,X

to the blends in the material file to make the texture appear X times smaller.

[Sotha]

Thanks. Gotta test the vertex blending with the Blender terrain.

 

The limitation of only two textures bugs me, but I suppose I can walk around it by first unwrapping the whole model, applying vertex paint, then cleaving the big model into smaller pieces and use different vertex colors when replacing the *BITMAP section for the models.

 

I that works, one could use an arbitrary amount of vertex blended textures in a seemingly singular terrain piece, which in reality is broken into separate models, each possessing only two vertex colors.

[Obsttorte]

That's the idea

 

However, you can use several shaders on one model.

[Sotha]

However, you can use several shaders on one model.

 

Oh, so I do! I forgot that option, so it will be a single model after all. Handy.

[Bikerdude]

one could use an arbitrary amount of vertex blended textures in a seemingly singular terrain piece, which in reality is broken into separate models, each possessing only two vertex colors.

Got a small test map..?

[Sotha]

Got a small test map..?

 

Not yet. I'll post one once I get there.

[Sotha]

Yes. Add

scale X,X

to the blends in the material file to make the texture appear X times smaller.

 

Can you confirm this really works? I tried to change the scale, but it did not change anything.

[Serpentine]

You also need to change the interaction shader scale, just a reminder

[Sotha]

Can someone post an example blend material with texture scaled down 5x? I don't seem to be able to do it. I played with the scale params, and the texture seems to change, but cannot understand how it changes. It is different looking, but it doesn't seem to be really changing its scale.

[rich_is_bored]

It should look something like this...

 

textures/example
{
  // first set
  {
  blend bumpmap
  map bump_1.tga
  scale 0.2, 0.2
  inverseVertexColor
  }
  {
  blend diffusemap
  map diff_1.tga
  scale 0.2, 0.2
  inverseVertexColor
  }
  {
  blend specularmap
  map spec_1.tga
  scale 0.2, 0.2
  inverseVertexColor
  }
  // second set
  {
  blend bumpmap
  map bump_2.tga
  scale 0.2, 0.2
  VertexColor
  }
  {
  blend diffusemap
  map diff_2.tga
  scale 0.2, 0.2
  VertexColor
  }
  {
  blend specularmap
  map spec_2.tga
  scale 0.2, 0.2
  VertexColor
  }
}

 

If it were me however, I'd forego editing the material shader. Just open the model in Blender and scale the UV coordinates up. One change versus a fair amount of text editing.

[Obsttorte]

Don'T use vertecColor/inverseVertexColor on the bumps.

[Bikerdude]

If it were me however, I'd forego editing the material shader. Just open the model in Blender and scale the UV coordinates up. One change versus a fair amount of text editing.

I found the ambient lighting stage needs to be added though, eg.

 

//This texture is for the blend brush's that will intersect the patch/brush you want to blend your textures on
textures/common/blend
{
 description  "a brush texture that is used to blend two textures when used on a patch/brush via the .ase blend export script."
qer_editorimage textures/common/blend.tga
noshadows
}
//This is the definition for the two textures you want to blend
// TDM blend Method Related - author Obsttorte
textures/blend/grass_stone_blend
{
surftype15
description "grass & stone blend texture"
bumpmap textures/darkmod/nature/grass/short_dry_grass_local
{
blend diffusemap						 //blend mode
map textures/darkmod/nature/grass/short_dry_grass_dark  //name of the image to apply
VertexColor					    //apply vertex coloring
}
// TDM Ambient Method Related
{		
 if (global5 == 1)
 blend add  
 map    textures/darkmod/nature/grass/short_dry_grass_dark
 scale 1,1								    //decrease size by factor of 'x' in both x- and y-direction
//rotate 90								  //rotate of the texture, as this can't be done in DR
 red    global2
 green   global3
 blue   global4
 VertexColor
}		
{		
 if (global5 == 2)
 blend add  
 program ambientEnvironment.vfp
 vertexParm  0  1, 1, 1, 1  // UV Scales for Diffuse and Bump
 vertexParm  1  1, 1, 1, 1 // (X,Y) UV Scale for specular
 vertexParm  2  global2, global3, global4, 1

 fragmentMap  0  cubeMap env/gen1  
 fragmentMap  1  textures/darkmod/nature/grass/short_dry_grass_local   // Bump  
 fragmentMap  2  textures/darkmod/nature/grass/short_dry_grass_dark   // Diffuse 
 fragmentMap  3  _black   // Specular
 VertexColor
}
// TDM blend Method Related - author Obsttorte
bumpmap textures/darkmod/stone/cobblestones/blocks_mixedsize02_multicolour_local
{
blend diffusemap								   //blend mode
map textures/darkmod/stone/cobblestones/blocks_mixedsize02_multicolour  //name of the image to apply
inverseVertexColor								 //apply vertex coloring
}
// TDM Ambient Method Related
{
 if (global5 == 1)
 blend add
 map    textures/darkmod/stone/cobblestones/blocks_mixedsize02_multicolour
 scale 1,1								    //decrease size by factor of 'x' in both x- and y-direction
 rotate 90								   //rotate of the texture, as this can't be done in DR
 red    global2
 green   global3
 blue   global4
 inverseVertexColor
}
{
 if (global5 == 2)
 blend add
 program ambientEnvironment.vfp
 vertexParm  0  1, 1, 1, 1  // UV Scales for Diffuse and Bump
 vertexParm  1  1, 1, 1, 1 // (X,Y) UV Scale for specular
 vertexParm  2  global2, global3, global4, 1
 fragmentMap  0  cubeMap env/gen1
 fragmentMap  1  textures/darkmod/stone/cobblestones/blocks_mixedsize02_multicolour_local   // Bump
 fragmentMap  2  textures/darkmod/stone/cobblestones/blocks_mixedsize02_multicolour   // Diffuse
 fragmentMap  3  _black   // Specular
 inverseVertexColor
}
}

[rich_is_bored]

I wouldn't mind seeing that changed now that we have the ability to. The image textures to be used for ambient lighting are already specified elsewhere in a material declaration. By cutting out the manual copy paste work you'd reduce the length of nearly every TDM material shader to one third it's size and they'd be less intimidating for newcomers to work with.

[nbohr1more]

I'm practically positive that the second stage:

 

{
 if (global5 == 2)
 blend add
 program ambientEnvironment.vfp
 vertexParm  0  1, 1, 1, 1  // UV Scales for Diffuse and Bump
 vertexParm  1  1, 1, 1, 1 // (X,Y) UV Scale for specular
 vertexParm  2  global2, global3, global4, 1
 fragmentMap  0  cubeMap env/gen1
 fragmentMap  1  textures/darkmod/stone/cobblestones/blocks_mixedsize02_multicolour_local   // Bump
 fragmentMap  2  textures/darkmod/stone/cobblestones/blocks_mixedsize02_multicolour   // Diffuse
 fragmentMap  3  _black   // Specular
 inverseVertexColor
}

 

is no longer valid for TDM 2.0 as the Enhanced Ambient was set to use Rebb's shader rather than JC Dentons.

 

I suppose you could be cruel to low-end folks and just include:

 

{
 if (global5 == 1)
 blend add
 program ambientEnvironment.vfp
 vertexParm  0  1, 1, 1, 1  // UV Scales for Diffuse and Bump
 vertexParm  1  1, 1, 1, 1 // (X,Y) UV Scale for specular
 vertexParm  2  global2, global3, global4, 1
 fragmentMap  0  cubeMap env/gen1
 fragmentMap  1  textures/darkmod/stone/cobblestones/blocks_mixedsize02_multicolour_local   // Bump
 fragmentMap  2  textures/darkmod/stone/cobblestones/blocks_mixedsize02_multicolour   // Diffuse
 fragmentMap  3  _black   // Specular
 inverseVertexColor
}

 

rather than the first low cost ambient stage and allow folks to choose between them...

 

The one question I have is about the the "dynamic" ambient which still appears to use this shader? (it looks like it anyway)...

Not sure if what happens if you don't include the second stage. Maybe a little experiment to test this tonight.

[Springheel]

I'm practically positive that the second stage:

is no longer valid for TDM 2.0 as the Enhanced Ambient was set to use Rebb's shader rather than JC Dentons.

 

That's what I was told, and I hope it's correct, as I have not been including them in any new materials for a while.

[Bikerdude]

That's what I was told, and I hope it's correct, as I have not been including them in any new materials for a while.

I'm confused it looks like you have put the same thing twice, which bit do I need to remove from the material file..?

[nbohr1more]

Here is the full example:

 

//This texture is for the blend brush's that will intersect the patch/brush you want to blend your textures on
textures/common/blend
{
 description  "a brush texture that is used to blend two textures when used on a patch/brush via the .ase blend export script."
qer_editorimage textures/common/blend.tga
noshadows
}
//This is the definition for the two textures you want to blend
// TDM blend Method Related - author Obsttorte
textures/blend/grass_stone_blend
{
surftype15
description "grass & stone blend texture"
bumpmap textures/darkmod/nature/grass/short_dry_grass_local
{
blend diffusemap                                                 //blend mode
map textures/darkmod/nature/grass/short_dry_grass_dark  //name of the image to apply
VertexColor                                         //apply vertex coloring
}
// TDM Ambient Method Related
{               
 if (global5 == 1)
 blend add  
 map    textures/darkmod/nature/grass/short_dry_grass_dark
 scale 1,1                                                                 //decrease size by factor of 'x' in both x- and y-direction
//rotate 90                                                               //rotate of the texture, as this can't be done in DR
 red    global2
 green   global3
 blue   global4
 VertexColor
}               

// TDM blend Method Related - author Obsttorte
bumpmap textures/darkmod/stone/cobblestones/blocks_mixedsize02_multicolour_local
{
blend diffusemap                                                                   //blend mode
map textures/darkmod/stone/cobblestones/blocks_mixedsize02_multicolour  //name of the image to apply
inverseVertexColor                                                               //apply vertex coloring
}
// TDM Ambient Method Related
{
 if (global5 == 1)
 blend add
 map    textures/darkmod/stone/cobblestones/blocks_mixedsize02_multicolour
 scale 1,1                                                                 //decrease size by factor of 'x' in both x- and y-direction
 rotate 90                                                                //rotate of the texture, as this can't be done in DR
 red    global2
 green   global3
 blue   global4
 inverseVertexColor
}

}

[Sotha]

Is there an up-to-date text written tutorial how to do this vertex blending terrain?

 

I tried this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZm-XlOpuyo

using the files given here: http://forums.thedarkmod.com/topic/12554-tutorials-in-darkradiant/?p=321015

 

But it seems be old and does not work:

Bikers tutorial script doesn't have "Level of blending in percent" parameter. What number should I use here?

I followed the tutorial with the script that comes with DR 2.0.2, but my end product is just grass and does not have vertex blending.

 

So, how to do vertex blended terrain nowadays?

[Obsttorte]

http://forums.thedarkmod.com/topic/15026-dr-ase-blend-exporter/?hl=%2Bblend+%2Bexporter

[Sotha]

http://forums.thedarkmod.com/topic/15026-dr-ase-blend-exporter/?hl=%2Bblend+%2Bexporter

 

Nope. Just doesn't work.

 

Here:

1) I made a terrain patch. I gave it the right texture. I put brushes with blend-texture on it.

 

2) I choose the whole mess and use the following parameters in the blended .ase export script.

 

3) Result is not what I wanted. The blending is applied like a blob on the center, and not according to the blend-brushes. What also sucks is that the blend-brushes are invisibly present on the terrain model and solid. They block the way and can be climbed onto.

 

How do I do this correctly? I just don't get it.

 

Thanks!

[Bikerdude]

It did used to work when I created the video tut, I've still got the original map so let me have a look this afternoon and come back to you.

[Obsttorte]

You are using an (very) outdated version of the script. Download the one in the linked thread and place it in the proper folder.