How to do Alpha textures on a Static Mesh

MajorIceman · 2019-03-10, 14:24

Hi there

Hopefully you can help, I'm having trouble adding a Alpha Texture to a Static mesh

I have a very simple model and want to apply a slight alpha to it so that it is partly see through but i cant see to get it to work.

Can you offer any advice please on this.

I remember years ago i had to do it a a bundlemesh instead so i have swapped it over to a Bundlemesh but i cant get it to export.

any advice would be great

Cheres

Rhino · 2019-03-10, 14:35

Staticmeshes can't have semi-transparent faces/textures. Any actual glass you see on a static building is, in fact, a bundlemesh, added on as a child to the main mesh, as per the glass windows of this shed: https://www.realitymod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86683

This might help: https://www.realitymod.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=140159

MajorIceman · 2019-03-11, 11:51

Thanks for that was very helpful i know i did it before but couldnt hundred percent remember and then couldnt export what i had to as a bundlemesh but as it was simple just recreated it and then exported fine and works just how i wanted it to

Can i ask 1 more question though i need to make this object shine its the Event Horizon of the Stargate so its almost like water i have it looking pretty good but now i have added a alpha channel to it the brightness has dropped down can you suggest the best form of shader to use as i always get confused with the correct layout was thinking of but not sure if the layout is correct ColorMapGloss |Alpha| would that work? or is there a better layout out or combination to use these

Rhino · 2019-03-11, 14:57

To have it shine you're probably better off making a separate glow object to go with it or something as per that other thread you made. The "gloss" part of the shader technique is just the spec map, which will only reflect sun and other lights when they are at an angle to reflect them so isn't really what you want. Also from what I recall you couldn't see through the puddle?

MajorIceman · 2019-03-11, 15:41

i think in the original film you could and i think there was some bits in the show where you saw it from behind the puddle and could see through on to the ramp, would love to animate the puddle so it waves a bit but wouldn't even know where to start with that.

Havent modded BF2 for so long we have decided to pick up and finish it but improve all the content we have so looking to improve the gate and other things

2019-03-10, 14:24	#1
MajorIceman Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 11 United Kingdom	How to do Alpha textures on a Static Mesh Hi there Hopefully you can help, I'm having trouble adding a Alpha Texture to a Static mesh I have a very simple model and want to apply a slight alpha to it so that it is partly see through but i cant see to get it to work. Can you offer any advice please on this. I remember years ago i had to do it a a bundlemesh instead so i have swapped it over to a Bundlemesh but i cant get it to export. any advice would be great Cheres
MajorIceman Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 11 United Kingdom

2019-03-10, 14:35	#2
Rhino Retired PR Developer Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 47,448 United Kingdom Location: Somerset - UK Blog Entries: 45	Re: How to do Alpha textures on a Static Mesh Staticmeshes can't have semi-transparent faces/textures. Any actual glass you see on a static building is, in fact, a bundlemesh, added on as a child to the main mesh, as per the glass windows of this shed: https://www.realitymod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86683 This might help: https://www.realitymod.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=140159

2019-03-11, 11:51	#3
MajorIceman Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 11 United Kingdom	Re: How to do Alpha textures on a Static Mesh Thanks for that was very helpful i know i did it before but couldnt hundred percent remember and then couldnt export what i had to as a bundlemesh but as it was simple just recreated it and then exported fine and works just how i wanted it to Can i ask 1 more question though i need to make this object shine its the Event Horizon of the Stargate so its almost like water i have it looking pretty good but now i have added a alpha channel to it the brightness has dropped down can you suggest the best form of shader to use as i always get confused with the correct layout was thinking of but not sure if the layout is correct ColorMapGloss \|Alpha\| would that work? or is there a better layout out or combination to use these
MajorIceman Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 11 United Kingdom

2019-03-11, 14:57	#4
Rhino Retired PR Developer Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 47,448 United Kingdom Location: Somerset - UK Blog Entries: 45	Re: How to do Alpha textures on a Static Mesh To have it shine you're probably better off making a separate glow object to go with it or something as per that other thread you made. The "gloss" part of the shader technique is just the spec map, which will only reflect sun and other lights when they are at an angle to reflect them so isn't really what you want. Also from what I recall you couldn't see through the puddle?

2019-03-11, 15:41	#5
MajorIceman Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 11 United Kingdom	Re: How to do Alpha textures on a Static Mesh i think in the original film you could and i think there was some bits in the show where you saw it from behind the puddle and could see through on to the ramp, would love to animate the puddle so it waves a bit but wouldn't even know where to start with that. Havent modded BF2 for so long we have decided to pick up and finish it but improve all the content we have so looking to improve the gate and other things
MajorIceman Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 11 United Kingdom