Edge-banding tool

[DDDesign]

I'd like to have a texture mapping tool that generates panels - extrusions typically 19mm/25mm thick - that have the edges automatically receive a wood grain texture that always runs around the long axis of the edge. The only way I can see to do this at the moment is to convert an extrusion into nurbs, and set each nurbs surface with the correct texture orientation. Very tedious.

[P Retondo]

How about a texture mapping mode that aligns the texture to the path of an "extrude along path" object. This would be useful for a lot of objects, not just edge bands (stair rails, fascias and trim that are generated from a path and profile, etc.).

[DDDesign]

Yes I'd agree. I think the texture mapping tools are lacking - and pretty crude compared to some other renderers. Trying to get the right grain orientation for wood procedural textures, for example, is so much of a pain I've given up trying to use them, and only use image map textures.

By the way, I have thought of a work-around for my panel issue. Having made a panel as a group of nurb surfaces with all the right grain directions, I just copy this panel, and being a group, I can scale it to make all the other panels.