Page 1 of 1
Extruded Plastic Material Help
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:35 pm
by frosty_ramen
HI All,
I am trying to recreate a extruded plastic material, it has become quite a challenge to get it close to what I am holding in my hands. Here are some images i took.

a technical description of our process.
The material is extruded plastics that have a foaming agent in them. The foaming agent basically adds air to the profile so it can take shape. The time the part leaves the die and enters the sizer the air surfaces randomly which gives multiplicity of monochromatic color as well as a unique texture.
If there is any more info you need just let me know.
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:41 pm
by Fernando Tella
Looks a bit like monochromatic wood. I would start from that.
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:46 pm
by frosty_ramen
Fernanado,
I have gone down that route, but it ended up being to wood like, and the grain to long. i'm also having a hard time of creating/downloading an appropriate texture and bump maps, unfortunetly i don't think i can get that from a scan/photo because the changes in color come out more than the physical texture.
any suggestions??
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:40 pm
by frosty_ramen
Maximus3d was able to do give some direction to me with these materials
http://www.filedropper.com/maxwellgreenplasticthingy
But i am still struggling to get a material that i and my boss is happy with.
thanks again for any comments and suggestions
_Dan
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:42 pm
by Tea_Bag
Hey,
Do you have actual samples as Reference? If so why dont you scan the samples using an everyday scanner and use that as a texture?!
edit: Missed the first line where you said you have a sample!
Yeah so scan the sample to get a high res texture map then use that same map to create the other maps (bump, normal, spec etc)
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:30 pm
by frosty_ramen
Tea_Bag,
When a scan is done. the texture is not seen, only the changes in color.
is there something obvious i'm missing or ...
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:49 pm
by tokiop
Hey frosty,
maybe you can post the scan, it is probably not a black and white texture but if there are color variations, it should be possible to extract the grain/texture information. Try playing with levels, high pass on various black and white versions, to get the texture you want. Scanned image are a very good source because there is no strong shadows.
If you can scan a large part i'm sure you'll be able to have a texture quick

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:03 am
by frosty_ramen
Here is a scan of the material, it is supposed to be green, its very odd.

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:42 am
by hyltom
A higher resolution of that scan could be more helpful. Also i personally make 4 scan of the same sample place in different direction in order to get the right bump.
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:37 am
by tokiop
Hello again Frosty, and thanks for the scan !
indeed a bigger resolution would help, I tried with this image but it lacks details.. it is true that the veins don't show up very well !
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:19 pm
by frosty_ramen
Here is a larger file of that same image.
http://www.filedropper.com/s35c-409011916461
Any other suggestions?
much appreciated
dan