MATCAPS- I need a refresher!

[John Bigboote]

How do you implement MatCaps again? I thought I knew how... just went to try it... drew a blank!

 

I THOUGHT it was in an available option under a groups properties in the Diffuse Render Shader- Specular Render Shader - Ambiance Render Shader lists, but I don't see matcaps as an option anymore... is it a shader I need to install?

 

I am on latest V 18.0N 64bit.

[robcat2075]

YOu need to have the matcap shader in your shaders folder. Try checking your v16 or v17 folders for it.

[Malo]

Hi,

Hope this picture will help to remember the steps :

[detbear]

Matt,

 

I use them all the time in V18.... They look incredible and the render much faster than materials.

 

Just get the 64 bit plugin and place it in with the folder with your existing HTX's.

 

You can only see the MAT CAP results at render time though. MAKE sure you have the "Plugin Shaders" set to ON in your render settings.

 

I also like the fact that you can add additional reflection, ambience, specularity, etc.

 

The only thing I think that conflicts with Mat Caps are decals....For some reason, I think decals don't function properly when the share the same patch with a mat cap.

[John Bigboote]

I recently had done a 'clean-wipe-reinstall' to my HDs... I do not have the plug-ins and don't remember where I ever got them from (WHY on earth are they not included with A:M V18???)

 

Where do we find them again?

[Rodney]

Matt,

They are probably available elsewhere but I believe this topic (In the Shaders forum) has the most recent Matcap download (for PC).

The zip file linked by Willi has both 32 and 64bit shaders.

:

 

http://www.hash.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=38756

 

 

At the end of that topic a link to a program to create Matcaps is posted as well.

The program is called MaCrea. The author has created several programs of interest that have been plugged here in the forum before.

[John Bigboote]

Thank- You, Rodney. Any idea why these are simply not included as a feature in A:M? It is a good thing this topic comes-up so new users can be informed of this powerful feature.

 

EDIT- Oh, I see it was graciously donated by Willi from Soulcage. I'm sure he wouldn't mind...

ALSO- When I did a forum search for matcap- nothing came up...

[Rodney]

ALSO- When I did a forum search for matcap- nothing came up...

 

When I search for matcap I get pages of hits.

Perhaps you were searching in 'this forum' only?

I note that by default the 'this forum' option often appears rather than the 'forums' option which will search throughout the entire site.

 

As 'matcap' is a term trademarked by another company (Pixologic) I'm not sure what the rules of usage/distribution are but perhaps that might be why Hash Inc wouldn't distribute the plugins.

[robcat2075]

As 'matcap' is a term trademarked by another company (Pixologic) I'm not sure what the rules of usage/distribution are but perhaps that might be why Hash Inc wouldn't distribute the plugins.

 

 

That's interesting. Would a name change fix that?

[John Bigboote]

SOULCAP!

[serg2]

I have it work. V 18.0N 64bit.

Shaders.zip

[Rodney]

That's interesting. Would a name change fix that?

 

It's a bit presumptious for me to suggest that as the reason the plugins wouldn't be included with A:M.

It's more likely Steffen has just never gotten around to packaging it with the installer.

As for a name, I suppose the the shaders can also be called Material Capture Shaders as that is from which the term Matcap derives; or MCS plugin for short.

[johnl3d]

Can someone post a project file for this with everything needed but the shaders I have an old 2003 project that are coming out strange compared to what I had in 17

[NancyGormezano]

I don't know about 2003 project not working in 17?

 

But in 16,17 for testing : (using a simple sphere or model)

 

1) make the surface/ diffuse color of matcap group = black

2) set ambiance render shader in surface property of the group = matcap ambient.

3) Choose a bitmap image (usually a lit sphere) to use as the shader.

4) in the default chor/camera/render options/ set plugin shaders =ON

 

render.

 

(extra credit and to confuse yourself: play with making diffuse color for the group something other than black, adding decals, changing lighting in chor).

[robcat2075]

Matt Helmet!

[johnl3d]

here is the old project I refered to https://www.hash.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=45691&hl=matcap

 

Nancy will try your suggestion later tonight

[johnl3d]

This is what I got after using my global image and turning on the ambiance and diffuse plug ins

 

 

 

 

 

matcaptry.zip

 

includes project file and global image I used be sure to added in as needed

 

 

 

[NancyGormezano]

most obvious from your settings - don't use the diffuse render shader (set =none) . Will have a look at your project

[NancyGormezano]

here's a project and another image to use for matcap

Johntree.prj

[johnl3d]

Thanks Nancy will play around tonight

[johnl3d]

 

 

 

 

Nice tree with reflections of your home ....thanks again will have to tinker some more

 

 

model

 

 

glass_tree.zip