[tom]

Thanks Max. It was around 8 hours, no more...

Patrik, the layer opacity controls the *influence* of corresponding layer. So, for example if you have a glass at weight 100 at the top layer, it won't show any other layer below. Think of each layer as separate substances and you are blending them in a stacked fashion. But, this doesn't mean even at full layer opacity, a transmissive material will show through. Also it's not a limitation at all, otherwise everything would mix up. Stacked system is not about stacking substances with virtual thicknesses. It's a typical opacity/mask controlled visual stacking system just like in every other application (e.g. PS). So, varnish should be a mirror layer. Try plastic wizard to see how things work.

[Fernando Tella]

But, this doesn't mean even at full layer opacity, a transmissive material will show through.

That is if you are using normal mode only, right? With additive it will mix, no?.

[PA3K]

Thanks for quick answer Tom. I understand, but i still think that it is kind of limitation this way. I thought exactly, that each layer is "materialy dependent" and you can see through 100 % visible layer if its material is transparent. If it will be way that i thougth, it will be possible to create water drops on any surface without modeling them, and many more complex materials without knowledge how to mask them. Now you must know, how each complex material (and its material components) behave in real life in each angle to create realistic material with masking and weightening ist layers. It will be easier my way. Also i have no clue how it can be realised in render engine, maybe it will really be mess.

[tom]

That is if you are using normal mode only, right? With additive it will mix, no?.

Yes, Additive mixes but it still doesn't allow putting a topcoat like Patrik says.

I thought exactly, that each layer is "materialy dependent" and you can see through 100 % visible layer if its material is transparent.

That'd require defining a virtual thickness for every layer and still wouldn't make things easier. Imagine now you can make a wooden base and carve color glass windows on it, otherwise it was impossible. Of course, the examples are many and this is only one of them.

[PA3K]

Yes Tom, you can do a lot of things now ... easier, but imagine, that your vase would be made just with one material with multiple layers with multiple displacement and your model could be just cylinder or sphere . There is another bunch of things you cannot do now just with stacked layers, you should model everything and you must have better physics knowledge. Virtual thickness of material components will not be bad at all.
Now i have my laptop on table made of varnished mahogany and it has such a complex optical properties, that i can not re-create this material with maxwell - it looks absolutely different in each angle i am looking on it.

[tom]

Now i have my laptop on table made of varnished mahogany and it has such a complex optical properties, that i can not re-create this material with maxwell

And, yet is there a better alternative? Also, could you post a photo of your table?

[PA3K]

No , there is nothing better now, so i really enjoy every improvement and new feature.

[Maximus3D]

Remember that nothing is impossible to recreate, it's just very very and sometimes VERY difficult to recreate.
Your varnished wood table should be relatively easy compared to some other stuff we've seen..

/ Max

[tom]

Right on!

Btw, here's my surprise. No textures used and vase geometry is untouched.
Anybody out there drawing a lightsaber? zdeno?

[m-Que]

Oh no, Tom! You dropped the vase!

My guess - multimaterial?

[tom]

My guess - multimaterial?

Maybe. How would a multimaterial do that?

[PA3K]

Tom your broken vase looks better than ever , i really like it. I don`t know how you created it.

Here are just two pictures of my table. Camera moved horizontaly. Please don`t look at white balance, bluriness and colour saturation difference, just look at some parts (stripes) that have been bright suddenly became dark and oposite. And bright/dark parts are changing different in vertical camera moving... really complex and unpredictable.

[tom]

Actually, this is such a easy material. The only problem is, you need highly detailed and good seamless textures. It has stains in different specular levels and bump and the current material system is already capable of doing this. Here's the simplest form out of your images. The rest is about the environmental reflections in you room.

[zdeno]

Great riddle Tom is it possible to make in 1.7? I have 2.0 demo only.

sorry Bubbaloo ! 1.7.1 of course !!

[tom]

Yes, it's possible.