I'm starting to attempt to texture in Maya Personal Learning Edition. One of my problems is knowing the properties of real life materials. Is there any internet or other resource that lists properties of materials such as metals, glass, paint, plastic, etc.?
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Get a life, a cyberspace life.
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Originally posted by Colours:
**I'm starting to attempt to texture in Maya Personal Learning Edition. One of my problems is knowing the properties of real life materials. Is there any internet or other resource that lists properties of materials such as metals, glass, paint, plastic, etc.?
**
Problem with that is that nothing is that cut and dried. Different types of metals shine and reflect differently than other types of metals. Rust, corrosion, tarnish, etc, change the sheen and color. Polished glass, dirty glass, dusty glass, etched glass, all look different. Balsa wood definitely has a different look than oak, or pine, or mahogany. I think that the best way to go is to just experiment. With time, you'll figure out what works and what doesn't. The worst that can happen is that you lose a little time, and the image doesn't look right. That's what image forums are for. You can get feedback from other artists on your work, and if you have a specific problem, just ask, and we'd all be happy to answer your questions.
Matrix
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"Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool."
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Originally posted by what_is_the_matrix:
**Different types of metals shine and reflect differently than other types of metals. Rust, corrosion, tarnish, etc, change the sheen and color. Polished glass, dirty glass, dusty glass, etched glass, all look different. Balsa wood definitely has a different look than oak, or pine, or mahogany.
**
Obviously.
Thank you for responding, you probably said what I needed to hear. Experimenting with all these settings, some of which I do not understand, seems daunting. Ah, well, I guess I'll just have to forge (stumble, trip, fall...) ahead.
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Get a life, a cyberspace life.
Quote
Originally posted by Colours:
**Obviously.
Thank you for responding, you probably said what I needed to hear. Experimenting with all these settings, some of which I do not understand, seems daunting. Ah, well, I guess I'll just have to forge (stumble, trip, fall...) ahead.
**
Just remember that when you're experimenting, you have to do it scientifically. Don't change more than one variable at a time, or else you won't know what each variable specifically does. For instance, I've found that simply putting a specific specular on an object can make it look like glass in certain conditions, and I don't need reflections nor refractions, which can slow a rendering time tremendously. Just find what works at a minimum, so that you don't waste time rendering.
Matrix
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"Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool."
