Trouble with Decals

[teh1ghool]

I'm having trouble applying my decal for a UV Map . I've flattened the group in an action window and i am now trying to APPLY my image as a DECAL (like the tut says) but the apply button is blanked out, and it says i can't drag it into the screen. Help would e greatly appreciated.

 

Oh wait nevermind, I had entered the decail in the wrong object! Problem solved.

 

Oh man nevermind to that too. How do I get into the UV Editor(Decal View) so that the image shows flattened patch? I mean I can apply the decal then stop positioning, but then how do I see it in the Decal View?

[apprentice]

I'm using 10.5, it's "right click" the stamp under decal and choose "edit". Maybe it's still the same in your version

[teh1ghool]

Correct, but it returns a blank window called (decal_name) where decal_name is the name of the decal.

[zandoriastudios]

Is your "Object color" set to white? Tools>customize>Appearance

If you are looking at white lines over a white image.....

[teh1ghool]

No there is no image there. The screen is absolutely blank. (Default window color; Dark Greenish)

[zandoriastudios]

So it sounds like, while you have made a decal, it has not been APPLIED to the model. Under the decal name it will show a STAMP if it has been applied.

 

If not. Open your action and double-click the decal name in the PWS. The decal should appear in the action window. Positon it, then right-click and choose APPLY from the context menu.

[teh1ghool]

The stamp IS there. I should have mentioned before. It just won't show up!

 

 

Here:

[Stuart Rogers]

That's odd. Have you *ever* been able to do this operation on this version of A:M? If not, check you have your graphics card drivers up to date - some similar problems over the years have been driver problems rather than A:M problems.

[KenH]

I'm finding it hard to grasp here. Do you mean the image isn't showing up on the model? If so press Contol (or command if you have a mac) D and it should show decals.

[teh1ghool]

Ok no Command-D does absolutely nothing, I have the latest drivers(new computer too), and this is the first time I've ever applyed a decal to an object. I'm following the Zandoria Studios UV Mapping tutorial on my own model.

 

Here's the file, maybe its something in the file.

AM_Ships_Human.prj.zip

[KenH]

I think it's because you're trying to apply the map inside an action. Do it in the model window. There's something screwy with the decal now. Just delete it and drag in the image onto the model again....in the model window.

 

On another note, the base of your ship has waaaay to many splines. It won't effect the decal though. Just efficiency and animation if you want to deform it.

[teh1ghool]

Ah yeah, I'm not gonig to be deforming it. It's a rock-solid ship. Thanks for teh suggestion.

 

 

Oh ok I didn't know the UV Map didn't work in the action window. According to the Zandoria tutorial it does work in the action, and it is done in the action.

 

Zandoriastudios: What's with that?

 

nevermind about that too. I tried to apply it ni the model window and it had the same effect.

 

A:M 12.0s

[apprentice]

Your prj doesn't come with the image file so I used a different image for your decal/stamp. When I did "recall view/position" it showed that your decal was not applied on the model but off outside the model. To apply a decal you must position and move the decal physically onto your model surface on the screen (like applying a sticker). Decals worked fine in my action window too (AM 10.5).

[teh1ghool]

On mine the model, actually the group(red), was inside on the top right corner. I Am not applying this all at once, but rather, applying it in groups like a good UV Map for this shape.

[KenH]

Applying a decal in an action is possible, but not as simple as the model window. It's been looked at by Hash through AM:Reports though....

[zandoriastudios]

Applying a decal in an action is possible, but not as simple as the model window. It's been looked at by Hash through AM:Reports though....

 

You want to do your decalling in an ACTION or POSE. Don't be using the FLATTEN feature in the modeling window!!!

[KenH]

You want to do your decalling in an ACTION or POSE. Don't be using the FLATTEN feature in the modeling window!!!

 

OK, I tried it again and it's possible to decal in the window now. I was having problem with it before. Obviously if you're flattening the model teh1ghool, you shouldn't do it in the model window.

 

However, for the moment, if you drag an image into the action window, it only makes a rotoscope. You have to first drag it into the model window, select decal and then you can position it in the action window.

[teh1ghool]

Ah ok thanks. I'll try that when I get home. Btw; I didn't flatten on the model window, I flattened in the action window.

[zandoriastudios]

I just right-click the modelname in the PWS and choose New>Decal from the context menu. That prompts you for the image. Then the decal appears in the window to be stamped.

 

We could make a feature request for Decal to be an option when dragging an image into an action or pose window. I have just been used to doing it by right-clicking, so didn't realize that would cause confusion.

[KenH]

Well that's had me confused for quite a while. Changing my workflow as I type.

[teh1ghool]

NO NO NO!!! It still doesn't make any difference! :'(

[KenH]

What's the problem? I can get it to work with the project you posted above. The decal might need to be deleted and re-applied.

[teh1ghool]

I'vbe tried that. It's teh same as before. It's totally blank! I'm not just putting a decal on, I'm bringing it to a UV Map. It's totally blank in the UV Editor(Decal View). That's what's wrong!

[teh1ghool]

Thank you everyone for you help, it's fixed now. Special thanks to luckbat who took time off from his work to help me out on AIM. Get this: The image had a 100-percent alpha channel that i didn't know about!!!!!!! adurrrrr!