[JCAddy]

you create your own original materials and not simply change the diffuse maps gianluca_75


...just a thought and something that was bothering me while looking at recently posted materials on the mxm site.

[misterasset]

OUCH While I wasn't ready to point out any particular person, I had noticed this "phenomenon" also.

[w i l l]

Whats the policy with using those materials? i.e. if I produce a render that uses a material from the gallery is somebody going to bitch about me using it?

[lsega77]

I think it's pretty much safe to assume that the materials on the mxm website are free to use for both commercial and personal use.

As far as anybody bitching... I think there would be more of a probability of copyright ownership/infringement issues in the case of someone distributing a copyrighted image/texture/HDRI (ie. submitting a material that uses a Dosch or SachForm HDRI without expressed written consent from those companies).

I think if NL is screening the materials they'll yank the mat if they catch it before it's uploaded to the site. Anybody bitching beyond that.... dunno but would seem silly.... why upload to a free mat library site and bitch because someone is using your mat?

Luis

[JTB]

I guess everyone here wants to show that he can make a good material. If that's the case, then post a rendered image with the material, not the MXM file. Since we have the MXM file, everyone is free to mess / experiment with it.
Changing the diffuse map gives a new material. After all, when you make a pavement for example, the only difference is usually the color of the stone, not the transparency, not the bump, not the reflectance 90deg

[Boris Ulzibat]

I agree with previous commens!
A new diffuse map gives a new material, period.
It is a free materials site, so noone can argue about people playing with their mats.
If you want to keep your material by yourself, well, do not upload it anywherem only the rendered image!

[w i l l]

Yeah, exactly.

[deadalvs]

guys, this is bullshit.

maybe You'd think absolutely different if it were a material You'd have created in many long hours work !
i know exactly what the important settings are from my material and how i could get three different areas with clip maps in this one material and in the new one... none of this is achieved.

yeah, of course You're right on the technical/legal side ... and we all want that mac mini, but this just seems to go too far !

this is about spirit and the way to provide something new. this is like stealing a christmas tree... but people seem to see this differently...

contests like these want to see new ideas, not permutations of the same ideas !!!

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deadalvs

[lsega77]

just to clarify my stance a bit. although legal not wrong and it's well within a person's right to download mat and tweak them for their own use I think it bites to take a mat and tweak it for the purposes of the competition.

The mats, in and of themselves, are fair for anyone to download and use. Hence the free nature of the site but when you grab a mat in a competition, change the color, upload and call it by a different name, that shows lack of creativity and originality and lack of respect for the originator of the material.

when I made my above comment i was answering Will's question and thought he meant in the general legal sense not as it pertained to the comp.

So I agree anyone has the right to download and tweak a mat for their use but to do it to undermine another competitor is wrong. No rules against it but I would assume this is an unwritten one.

Luis

[deadalvs]

...but I would assume this is an unwritten one.

Luis

exactly... using a material doesn't hurt anyone, but entering the contest again takes a lot of balls... ! (or ballesses, the female version)

* * *

do we have to play these games 'round here ? man, this discussion should never have started...

* * *

deadalvs

[Boris Ulzibat]

Yes, for the competition part it is all wrong, i agree.

But as they say:

"Good artists copy, great artists steal"

[w i l l]

Ok... I didn't know anyone was refering to a competition. I forget about this happening every month.

[JCAddy]

I've spoken with the person and its resolved.

The fact of the matter is sure, learn things and create your own material using what you've learned from the others around you but DONT use all the same maps, same material name, same settings and just apply a new diffuse color then upload it. That's lame if you ask me.

whatever though...