Presagis

Hello all,
Is there a way to add more textures to an existing generate image from “texture compositor”?  I textured a building and ran the texture compositor which generated the combined images.  I found other building with the same general build but minor changes in the new model (a different back texture for other models).  Is there an editing function for adding the new textures or do I have to re-texture the original model back to original individual textures and add in the new models with the changed textures?
Thank you.
Robert Swaney

Unfortunately there is no texture de-compositor features. You can texture the new model so that it uses the composite texture (except for the side that is different), then run texture compositor to composite the original composite with the new side. However this doesn’t help much.  If you have a version of the model before the original composite, then your best bet would be to recomposite from the original and throw the new guy in the mix as well.

Actually, there is a way to add new textures to a composite texture you already created.  Let’s say you created composite texture A for building A and you wanted to add textures from building B to texture A.  Do this:

1) Open db A, bring building B into A (copy/paste, x-ref etc)
2) Select the faces of building A (that presumably are all mapped with texture A).
3) “Add to Select” the faces from building B.
4) Start Texture Compositor

At this point, Texture Compositor will include texture A and all “composite-able” textures from building B.  Now simply position textures from building B in the new composite texture.  Note that if texture A had some “blank spots” Texture Compositor (by default) won’t let you put any textures from B into those blank spots.  Hold down ALT key while dragging positioning B textures to fill these empty spots in texture A if desired.

Steve,
Thank you for the information.  It works, but you will have to avoid moving new textures to the blank area of original compositor.  Two problems with moving to original compositor texture:
1)  After moving, accidentally click the original texture and the new texture is layered under the compositor.  Moving the original can let you get to it.
2) After saving (with new texture still on top), the new compositor shows only the outline box of the added textures.  There is no chance of seeing the new texture.
Thank you for your reply.
Robert

Hmmmmm, I’ve done what Steve suggests (Alt+Click+drag) successfully.  Perhaps its a selection order thing.

When I am compositing a bunch of buildings together, often from other sources, I find that I ususally have to do some remapping to remove repeats and that sort of thing.  Since this represents a non-trivial amount of work, I’ve gotten into the habit of doing this iteratively, and when I get verything to composite properly, canceling saving my model(s) right before doing it one final time.  then If I want to go back and add more or anything, it’s really easy (unless I’ve done a large amount of work after compositing).

Kent,
Yes, the ALT+Click+drag moves the textures into the original compositor, it the viewing after loading the new compositor into the texture palette and seeing the the new compositor with just a green lined box showing instead of the new texture.  I followed the selection order that Steve stated, and tried selecting the newer models and then the original model (original compositor), and I still get a green lined box for the new texture.  It looks like a black mask is used to block any underlying textures.
Yes, I know about saving the original model with the original textures, I just wanted to cut down on the number of files I am generating.
Thank you.
Robert

Maybe I’ve just been lucky - I just tried a couple of test examples, and it appears that no matter what, the one you select and alt+click on shows up on top of the other when positioning, but after saving (with minimal testing here) it appears that texture belonging to the last face selected shows up on top.  I tried changing the order in the list, and altering the alphabetical order, same result, albeit with only two textures.

Of course, I’m still on 3.4 until our current production cycle ends next month.

Good luck !

Kent,
I am using 3.5.1 Creator.  I think I found the answer to my problem.  During the ALT+Click+drag, if the new texture is place over the original compositor (even a few pixels), then it disappears with only the green box showing.  If I move it always from the original compositor textures, it work fines.
Thanks.
Robert