Subligna,

I will be attending to to Mothers day activities, so I'll be gone most of the day. However, just quickly, the black image could be because the image *is* mostly black. Thus, scaling could be a factor. Also, lighting could be a factor in photorealistic rendering. I still would like to be able to just map your logo to a simple solid surface and see that happen. It works easily for me in VC9 2D/3D. But with the rendering engine in PRO lighting comes into play. Could you map the texture just to a solid cube and play with the scaling to see if the white part shows up? Could you try to map a different texture and see if it shows up on a solid cube. Does it show up if using OpenGL rendering? Photorealistic rendering?

I know you are getting pulled in somewhat of a dual path here, so take the path that you see fit (or both). I would like to see the texture successfully mapped to a simple solid cube (see my previous post) with the right colors. I guess I'd just like to see some basics working first. But again, go where you think best.

I will check back later...

Edit: Try creating a decal with a simpler shape like a square or circle!

The Other Tim

Edited by user Sunday, May 10, 2015 10:00:55 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

WaveMechanic,

Mapping the texture to a surface did not work for me. I was unable to center the fire to the surface. Using the various controls I could get close but not acceptable. Tim's video is very interesting and I will give it a try. Adding a logo to a drawing should be fairly easy to do.

The comment about win is well taken. I don't know the win file structure, I avoid windows every chance I get. The win users will need to sort that out for themselves.

Mitch

mitchb,

I use "other" 3D CAD software that I think may be using the same or similar rendering engine as VIACAD. It works quite well, but I have noticed that when trying to UV map a texture, the input only allows integers and the image can sometimes end up "jumping around" the exact desired alignment point but never landing exactly on it. So I understand what you are saying. That's why I typically use Blender for final rendering of models (UV mapping functions). However, I have become very attached to VIACAD and I am currently considering an upgrade to PRO so I can photo-render within VIACAD...and maybe even make some tutorials on using the rendering engine.

Thank you and rokoko for jumping in on this thread. I hope to hear that Subligna has success soon.

The Other Tim

Edited by user Monday, May 11, 2015 9:16:23 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Subligna,

A corrupted install could certainly cause confusing problems. I am not using a MAC so I can't help much other than to suggest that if you created any directories/folders of your own in the install ("APP" on a MAC?) folder, I would remove them (i.e. I think you said that you created a "texture" folder of your own in the install/APP folder?). User created folders inside install (APP?) folders may be ignored by the program, or may possibly confuse the program if it reads them.

Yes..try another image/photograph, as you suggest, with dimensions (or resized) such that dimensions are an exact power of 2 (e.g. 256x256, 512x256, 512x512 etc.) Sometimes things map better that way. If it works, then try non ^2 dimensions.

Note also that in the video, Tim O. applied a predefined decal BEFORE he applied his custom decal (same as mitchb suggested in his post). I figure you already caught this, but it is a little subtle. Did you previously state that the predefined decals in your VIACAD do work?

I still hope you get this resolved. I'll continue to monitor this thread to check for additional posts or progress. With the help of rokoko, mitchb and Tim Olson, it does sound like you are doing things correctly, so perhaps you are correct that something else is amiss.

The Other Tim

Edited by user Monday, May 11, 2015 12:19:39 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Update.

>>my custom decal is not showing up in the user category of the decal dropdown.

What build number do you have of ViaCAD?

Tim

Subligna,

I upgraded to VC9 PRO yesterday (v9.0.0 Build 1109), so I tried a custom decal myself. Here is what I did:

1) Created a custom red stencil and fake logo in Paint Shop Pro. Saved as .jpg. Both files same
dimensions.
2) Copy and pasted the above files to the following directory (remember I am on WIN 7, not MAC):

C:\Program Files (x86)\Punch! Software\ViaCAD Pro 9\PhotoRender\Textures

3) Opened VC9 PRO and created 2 solids and a surface.
4) Applied a pre-defined decal from VC9 PRO.
5) Used Inspector to resize the decal to fit the objects.
6) Used Inspector to apply my custom stencil and logo image.
7) Rendered the result, and it did work for me. See attached images.

I found the process worked easily on the solids and surfaces. I could NOT, however, get this procedure to work with a mesh. The decal would not adhere to the mesh. It kept jumping to the origin of the grid. I take it you are mapping to a solid or surface?

My custom decals do NOT show up in my Decals library. It looks like I can only access them from the dropdown boxes in the Inspector.

Worked pretty much just like rokoko, mitchb and Tim O recommended.

I don't know if you are still interested in this thread, but I posted my results anyway in case it might help you or somebody else.

The Other Tim

Edited by user Wednesday, May 13, 2015 8:49:46 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Subligna,

I tried both .jpg and .bmp. Both worked. I found the following as well (remember I am on WIN 7):

1) My custom STENCIL and the IMAGE files must reside in the following directory:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Punch! Software\ViaCAD Pro 9\PhotoRender\Textures

2) The Decal Library does not allow me to directly import images or stencils through VC9 PRO. I had to manually copy them to the desired program directory above (contrary to what I stated in a previous post).

3) I tried the same procedure by placing the stencil and image in the VIACAD (WIN 7) "user" directories:

C:\Users\Tim\Documents\Punch!\ViaCAD Pro\PhotoRender\Textures

and;

C:\Users\Tim\Documents\Punch!\ViaCAD Pro\PhotoRender\Decals

The stencil and image would not show-up in the Inspector or the Decal Library. Thus, the "User" directories did not work for me. I hate messing with program directories directly (as in item 1 above), but it was the only way I could make this work. It seems that my VC9 PRO does not read the user directories (at least for decals) when I launch it.

4) The decals do not show-up in the Decal Library no matter where I put them. I have Inspector dropdown box access only.

The Other Tim

Edited by user Wednesday, May 13, 2015 9:00:20 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Clarify text.

Subligna,

FANTASTIC! It had to happen! Post again if more questions, but for now HURRAY!

The Other Tim

mitchb,

In response to your first paragraph...yes. That is how mine works. If I create a custom material, it does show-up I the Render Library. I have indeed found where the images are stored. I like how the materials work because I don't have to mess around in program directories.

Just like you, my custom decal doesn't show up in the Photo Render Library/Decals.

I am using ViaCAD PRO V9 almost daily now. I may check out Tim O's book, but so far I have been able to get VC9 Pro to do everything I want. I do a lot of photorealistic rendering so I spend a LOT of time working materials and mapping them. In general, I find ViaCAD to be very intuitive. I have also been using Blender since V2.49, which is quite not as intuitive as ViaCAD but very powerful...especially for UV mapping...(if you want to take the time to learn how it works). I now use ViaCAD in conjunction with Blender 2.74 and find them to be a mighty powerful pair.

Thanks for the additional input and Happy Modeling!

The Other Tim

Edited by user Friday, May 15, 2015 6:51:26 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified