[Ernesto]

Did you ask Adobe the same? If you have only one Layer in PS you can still change the blending mode... but WHY should you do this?!?
Sorry... i give up...

Good Question!
Anyway I am not using that much Photoshop, but as far as I understand it works in a diferent way. I assume that their layers cannot work in an ADITIVE way, therefore all the settings refers exclusively to what is inside each layer.
And the reason for them to have those settings in a single layer could be due to the fact that you could have a semitransparent image, without a background if you want it.

If we use all the layers in NORMAL mode it would be working like in Photoshop. Things changes when using ADITIVE mode. The reason is that NORMAL mode refers only to what is INSIDE the layers, but ADITIVE refers to the relationship between two layers, so we are mixing two caracteristics belonging to diferent LEVELS. This might explain the tricky problem.

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[Bubbaloo]

this is totally useless

[Ernesto]

this is totally useless

You forgot the other half of the phrase: If we have no oficial answer

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[JDHill]

NORMAL mode refers only to what is INSIDE the layers, but ADITIVE refers to the relationship between two layers

No, BSDFs within a Layer are combined according to their Weights. Blending mode refers purely to how Layers are stacked. This will only be confusing if you insist on trying to apply 1.x logic to 2.x materials.

[rusteberg]

Patent Pending:

"I started a thread
and all I got was
this lousy t-shirt"

[hatts]

Ernesto, your enthusiasm for getting back into Maxwell is great, but you do seem to jump to conclusions when you run into a challenge. These things aren't UI "traps" or "problems" that NL is lazy to fix; they're just natural difficulties along the way of learning newer software.

If a new hammer comes out, and many people used it to build the Great Pyramids, the Pantheon, and the tower of Babel, whose fault is it that you keep smashing your thumb?

I can assure you Maxwell is developed with many extremely bright professionals in the fields of design, physics, engineering, computer science, etc. It isn't just a room full of UI designers making pretty interfaces. You can probably spare them the Apple lectures.

I agree that it can be a frustrating learning curve but I can assure you that these forums and the online references will ease your pain...

[Mihai]

Ernesto, I strongly suggest to NOT go back to your old reflex of criticizing what you don't understand, or how NL chooses to do something, demanding "official answers" 5 times a day, masturbatory philosophizing that serves no purpose and so on. No, we don't spend our days just making pretty icons and forget everything else that goes into an UI, to answer your latest "constructive criticism" (just wondering but do you even realize what a pain in the a** you come off as with these kinds of comments?). Go get some work done, read the docs, stop jumping to conclusions and ask more questions AFTER you've had a read through the docs on the topic you're interested in (half of your questions you're already answering yourself in the same post you just took the time to write). Resist the impulse to post as your first recourse.

The patience limit for this type of chatter has been lowered....a bit, compared to the "good ol' days".

[Mihnea Balta]

Anyway I am not using that much Photoshop, but as far as I understand it works in a diferent way. I assume that their layers cannot work in an ADITIVE way, therefore all the settings refers exclusively to what is inside each layer.

You like to assume a lot, don't you? It's just awesome how you assume something and you start building these fantasy worlds and passionate arguments on top of that. And you think the whole world is against you, and you've been wronged, and the people at NL are dumb and you could do a better job any day of the week. And then your assumption turns out to be wrong.

I think you should assume you know how to do a render engine, or design UI or whatever. And then you should go do it and run NL out of business.

And the reason for them to have those settings in a single layer could be due to the fact that you could have a semitransparent image, without a background if you want it.

Right, and there's no way you can have a semitransparent material. No, that would simply run against your assumptions, so it has to be impossible.

The reason is that NORMAL mode refers only to what is INSIDE the layers, but ADITIVE refers to the relationship between two layers, so we are mixing two caracteristics belonging to diferent LEVELS.

So 3 or more people already told you how it actually works. They've also pointed you to the manual, which clearly explains how it works. And now you come and say that's not how it works. You assume that normal mode applies inside the layer (whatever that means) and therefore it must be like that. The people who made the system don't know what it does; you do. This is priceless.

This might explain the tricky problem.

Layer blending is something simple and intuitive that has been used in 2D and 3D graphics since forever. It has roots in traditional processes that people used way before there was software for this, such as putting cutouts or transparent sheets on top of each other. Everybody understands how it works and newbies can pick it up in minutes.

Despite this, you simply can't wrap your head around it. So no, I don't think your chain of assumptions can explain the "tricky problem". I think there's another explanation. Keep looking.

[Ernesto]

just wondering but do you even realize what a pain in the a** you come off as with these kinds of comments?

Yes, I know. I prefer you to be direct, rather to be absent.
Thanks Mihai

Ernesto

[zdeno]

nice job Ernesto You have gift to make powerfull people mad

with this all invisible light and mxm materials you have to understand what you are really see. all from BSDF is reflected/refracted light and separate it from emitter which beheaves different. It is almost impossible to explain it clearly with my poor english so You have to learn it yourself with houndrets of tests.

keep testing stop posting
try to collect all questions/assumptions and publish it only in fridays (NL used to do this)
it would give you time to self-repair mode

[tom]

I officially state that we care about your ideas.

[Ernesto]

Thanks! it is good to know it!
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