Latest revision as of 23:24, 1 March 2024

Motion Path Rubber

This shader variation, known as Motion Path Rubber, is tailored for rendering static rubber or metal mesh tracks and belts, such as those found on crawler vehicles in farming simulations. The shader utilizes a vertex animation texture (VAT) that contains predefined poses, allowing for the simulation of track and belt movements, such as advancing or retracting. These poses are created from spline data in Maya or Blender, processed by a custom tool, and then exported for use in the GIANTS Engine. While the animation is not responsive to environmental interactions, it effectively simulates the mechanical movement of caterpillar treads and belts in a pre-determined, looped sequence.

Parameters

Base Parameters

RDT: Reflective Detail Textures - Controls the amount of reflective detail such as scratches, dirt, and snow on the vehicle surface. Type: `float4`. Default: `0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0`.
dirtColor: Sets the color of the dirt overlay on the vehicle. Type: `float4`. Default: `0.20 0.14 0.08 0.0`.

Scroll Parameters

scrollPosition: Controls the scrolling position for effects such as tracks or belts. Type: `float4`. Default: `0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0`. Range: `-1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0` to `1.0 10.0 10.0 1.0`.
prevScrollPosition: The previous scrolling position, calculated automatically by the shader. Type: `float4`. Default: `0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0`. Range: `-1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0` to `1.0 10.0 10.0 1.0`.
lengthAndRadius: Defines the length and radius for scrollable elements. Type: `float4`. Default: `2.0 0.5 0.0 0.0`.

Usage

This shader variation is designed for rubber crawler/belts without the any special needs for a second uv map or support for colorMask

For common 3d crawler/belt setup please go to Common 3D Crawler Creation.

For steps specific to the Motion Path Rubber Shader, see the detailed guide.

Troubleshooting

Check that the overall length of the track is exactly 10meters from start to end laying flat
1. This can easily be checked if you click on the belt mesh object in blender and check the dimension (Y Axis)
Check that the correct array texture is used

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 = Motion Path Rubber =
 This shader variation, known as Motion Path Rubber, is tailored for rendering static rubber or metal mesh tracks and belts, such as those found on crawler vehicles in farming simulations. The shader utilizes a vertex animation texture (VAT) that contains predefined poses, allowing for the simulation of track and belt movements, such as advancing or retracting. These poses are created from spline data in Maya or Blender, processed by a custom tool, and then exported for use in the GIANTS Engine. While the animation is not responsive to environmental interactions, it effectively simulates the mechanical movement of caterpillar treads and belts in a pre-determined, looped sequence.
 == Parameters ==
 === Base Parameters ===
 {{VehicleShaderParameters|group=base}}
 === Scroll Parameters ===
 {{VehicleShaderParameters|group=scroll}}
 == Usage ==
-== Required Software ==
+This shader variation is designed for rubber crawler/belts without the any special needs for a second uv map or support for colorMask
-List the software needed for the entire process:
-- Blender (for mesh creation, UV mapping, creating curves, generating VAT data, and exporting)
-- GIANTS Editor (for visualization and testing)
-- Text Editor (Notepad++/VSCode for XML editing)
-== Prerequisites ==
+For common 3d crawler/belt setup please go to [[Common 3D Crawler Creation]].
-Note that while Maya can be used, this tutorial will only cover Blender due to software availability. Encourage users with Maya experience to adapt the steps accordingly.
-== Step-by-Step Process ==
+For steps specific to the Motion Path Rubber Shader, see [[Motion-Path-Rubber-Specific|the detailed guide]].
-Break down the process into clear, actionable steps:
+== Troubleshooting ==
-=== Creating the Mesh ===
-Detail how to create a simple rubber track mesh suitable for the shader.
-=== Creating the Curve ===
-Explain how to create the curve that will be used to generate the VAT and ensure proper fitting of the track to the curve.
-=== Preparing the Mesh ===
+# Check that the overall length of the track is exactly 10meters from start to end laying flat
-Instructions on removing the curve modifier, creating the UV map, and scaling the track to the exact dimensions required by the shader (10 meters along the Y-axis).
+## This can easily be checked if you click on the belt mesh object in blender and check the dimension (Y Axis)
+# Check that the correct array texture is used
-=== Texturing ===
-Guide the user through creating the necessary textures, such as normal maps and vehicle masks.
-=== Exporting ===
-Walk through how to export the data using Blender's GIANTS Exporter tool, including setting up the necessary attributes and materials.
-=== Visualization with GIANTS Editor ===
-Show how to import and test the mesh in GIANTS Editor.
-=== XML Setup ===
-Describe the XML configurations needed to add the 3D track to a vehicle.
-== Sharing Common Steps with Other Shaders ==
-Discuss how this process shares similarities with other shader variations and provide links or references to those sections to avoid duplication.
-== Conclusion ==
-Sum up the tutorial and invite users to explore further, possibly suggesting more advanced topics or related tutorials.
-== Troubleshooting ==
-''Common issues and solutions for this variation.''

Shaders Overview/VehicleShader/MotionPathRubber: Difference between revisions