Custom Renderworks Textures

[Steven Kenzer]

I often need to create my own Renderworks Textures based on veneers we will be using on a project. One issue I have often is pointed out in the attached image by the red arrows. I would prefer the grain lines to be continuous so there is no interruption of a butt joint periodically. I have adjusted the "Set by Image" area to no avail. Have also played with many of the settings in the Edit Texture box but, also to no avail. Can someone offer some advise on this? As always, beyond appreciative for this resource and ability to gain knowledge from others. Thanks so much.

[grant_PD]

You need to make the texture seamless. open the image file in photoshop and use the offset filter to offset the image and show you the butt joint. You're then going to have to do some cloning and stamping to get rid of the but joint.

[Markvl]

Grant is correct. This is a texture image issue not a Vectorworks problem. It will take a little finessing as there also appears to be some inconsistent lighting from one side to the other on the texture image. There are good tutorials on the web to help with that too. All the best.

[C. Andrew Dunning]

Steven -

You might want to give Wood Workshop a try (http://www.spiralgraphics.biz/ww_overview.htm). It is a generator for seamless wood textures.

[Steven Kenzer]

Thanks everyone.....all advice will be taken. I guess "seamless" is the key here. I'll post back with the end results. Thanks again.

[Steven Kenzer]

Bummer..this seamless generator looked great BUT, Windows only...I'm a Mac guy forever.

[Steven Kenzer]

This is the file I was using to create that texture....Does looking at this reveal anymore of the issue I'm having?

[Benson Shaw]

The above suggestions are the way to go if you have skills and additional software.

Here are some other ideas:

Your credenza shows that the texture is tilling at about half the length of the longest drawer. You can scale the texture in the OIP render tab, or edit the image shader in the texture to resize it (scales uniformly in x and y) then only part of the image is used but it "covers" the drawer front with no seams.

Or,in Vectorworks, extract the image from the texture (or use your original image if you have it). Place the image as a bitmap on a Vectorworks design layer and just drag the corners. Export the stretched object as an image (eg to desktop), then import it into vwx as an image resource, then make a new texture from it. But sometimes the resulting texture looks, well, stretched.

Another workaround is to capture more of the wood so that the image you use to build the texture reveals a longer/wider swath of the board(s) than the objects needing texture. If the boards you photograph for your textures are still available, and if they are long/wide enough, move the camera back for a new photo, or zoom back, so that enough of the board is in the frame. Crop out unneeded background. Problems with this include all the usual problems of photography - lens distortion, loss of sharpness from increased distance, uneven lighting, etc, etc.

Good luck!

-B

[Steven Kenzer]

Thank you, Benson!

[AlanW]

Hi, this texture is similar and i worked it over on Photoshop to get a larger sample by book matching it so hopefully it will help.

Sorry just changed the image as it had a slither of whit in the overlap.

Hopefully this one is ok

Edited May 7, 2015 by Alan Woodwell

[barkest]

On my signature you will find a link to my youtube channel. I have several videos on creating seamless textures in PS which I then use in VW.

[Steven Kenzer]

All very helpful Alan and Steve. Steve the video is great, really clarifies the process for me. Thanks again for all the assistance here.

[Guest Wes Gardner]

A great image editor, if you can't afford Photochop is Gimp, it's FREE!

[Steven Kenzer]

I'll check it out, Wes...thank you. I use Photoshop Elements, which seems to be ok but will be curious about Gimp..appreciate the info.