4 replies to this topic

[James Ronson]

Is there any documentation on how to create new texture files? I have looked at the manual and have not found much help.

I have searched the net and discovered a few software packages that will help in creating seamless (patterns) from image files. I'm not at that stage...yet. Just looking to understand a bit more regarding the proper procedure for these files as used by SoftPlan.

I see Keith has generously donated some images of siding. I would be interested in learning more about creating these and similar. Especially optimum file size, resolution, pixels, distance, ...ect.

Thanks in advance

Jim

[Keith Almond]

Jim,

 

The only thing that's important as far as I can see is the specific size. When creating seamless textures, 1 pixel is equal to 1/16" so if you have a texture that repeats every 12" high then it has to be 192 pixels high and the same goes for the width: a  36" wide repeat is equal to 576 pixels wide.

 

Hope that helps.

[Martin Livingston]

One of the problems I find when creating textures from images I find online is the lighting used when they take the picture. It always seems to be dark and light areas making vertical shadows where the images are stitched together. I usually the original image (picture #1) crop out a narrow slice (picture # 2) and resize it back up to a usable size (picture #3). In the rendering (picture #4) the original image was used on the right wall panel and you can see the vertical shadows. The altered image was used on the left wall panel and the vertical lines are gone.

 

By the way, if you are looking for PlyGem/Mitten siding images go here https://www.mittensi...rs?lang=switch1

 

Cheers!

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[James Ronson]

Thank you both for your input. I'm trying to wrap my head around the 1/16" = 1 pixel find. If you are creating a new texture from a picture (existing stone veneer). How does the size of the stone in the picture relate to your find?  For example the stone repeats every 6" (Height) and 12" (Width). Depending on the amount of stone in the picture, won't that affect the pixel count?

 

Do you use any software for creating custom texture files? or Improving on the files that ship with SoftPlan?

 

Thanks!

Jim

[Keith Almond]

Okay ... Say that you have found a picture of stone or siding or whatever it is. and it has 10 courses that are 5" high - total 50 inches. For it to be sized correctly, it should be resized to 800 pixels high. 50 inches  x 16 pixels. You can resize on the fly within the program, but at least it starts out by looking correct.

 

I use Filter Forge and Xara Photo and Graphic Designer to create custom textures, and typically, I try to have them correctly sized when I create them.

 

I've never felt the need to "improve" the textures that ship with Softplan.