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VRayPattern For Maya Manual

VRayPattern allows to multiply geometry periodically without extra memory consumption. As a sample you can use any tiled geometry (or those with unobtrusive joints). VRayPattern also allows to curve geometry on any surface. The plug-in works in similar way as displacement map. However, displacement map can only use raster or vector maps of pattern to cover the surface of geometry, VRayPattern can use any of the original geometry.

The plug-in best used where large amount of geometry required, but without great accuracy.

 User interface

Downloads

Example Scenes

Quick Start

  • Create VRayPattern Node: Create → R&D Group → VRayPattern
  • Select base polygon object, select VRayPattern and press “Attach” button near “Base Object”. Object must have UV!
  • Select pattern polygon object, select VRayPattern and press “Attach” button near “Pattern Object”.
  • Press “Fit Crop Box” button. Edit crop box with “Crop Size” attribute or using manipulator with “Show manipulator tool”.
  • Press render.

System Requirements

Operating system:

  • Windows
  • Mac OS X
  • Linux

Maya versions:

  • Windows: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Mac OS X: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Linux: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

V-Ray versions:

  • Windows / Linux / Mac OS X: 1.5, 2.0, 2.2, 2.3

Architecture:

  • Windows: 32/64 bit
  • Mac OS X: 32/64 bit
  • Linux: 64 bit

NOTE:

  • User must be able to obtain root permissions (for Linux or OS X, using sudo, for example) to install VRayPattern For Maya.

Registration

All iCube R&D Group plugins have the same registration procedure.

Windows

Start the registration utility: Start menu > R&D Group > Product > Registration or launch <ProductName>_registration.exe

Please make sure you always use the registration utility which is supplied with the particular version of the product.

 VRayScatter for Maya registration

Choose the hard disk to be linked with the license (linking with external USB storage, Flash drives and network drives is not supported).

Press the «Get Your ID File» button and save *.id file on your hard disk under any name you like.

 VRayScatter for Maya activation

This will generate an ProductName_<UserName>_<Date>.id file on your Desktop.

Send this file to mail@rendering.ru (or your reseller). Please, attach copy of you receipt or order number to avoid any delays in communication.

In the nearest time (usually within 24 hours) you will get an email from us (or your reseller) with *.lic license file attached. Save this file on your hard disk.

Start again the registration utility and press the «Apply Key File» button.

In the dialogue box select the *.key file you received from us. With this registration procedure is over.

Linux / OS X

Please make sure you always use the registration utility which is supplied with the particular version of the product.

Open your preferred terminal application and start the registration utility:

$ cd ~/where/you/have/unpacked/the/archive
$ ./tools/ProductNameRegistration

This will generate an ProductName_<UserName>_<Date>.id file on your Desktop.

Send this file to mail@rendering.ru (or your reseller). Please, attach copy of you receipt or order number to avoid any delays in communication.

In the nearest time (usually within 24 hours) you will get an email from us (or your reseller) with *.lic license file attached. Save this file on your hard disk.

Start again the registration utility with the path to the license file argument like:

$ cd ~/where/you/have/unpacked/the/archive
$ ./tools/ProductNameRegistrationRegistration /path/to/license/file.lic

or manually copy this file to ~/.config/RDGroup/ProductName.lic like this:

$ mkdir -p ~/.config/RDGroup/
$ cp /path/to/license/file.lic ~/.config/RDGroup/ProductName.lic

Notes

In case of license malfunction and errors (which can be caused by disk formatting, reinstallation of the operating system or components replacement) you are free to address the developer at any time. Please make sure you download latest version from our forum and generate new *.id file. Send it to mail@rendering.ru to get your updated *.lic file.

However, we reserve the right not to issue a new license in case of total replacement of a PC if the registration request is submitted more often than once in half a year.

ATTENTION! Please always try to email from the same email address you used when you purchased the plug-in. If we can’t find your e-mail address from which you sent the ID file in our database and there is no explanation and receipt or order number in you email, your request may not be processed!

Please always attach you receipt or order number to avoid any delays in communication.

You don't need a license for Batch and DR nodes.

Linux / Mac

Please, make sure that you've downloaded the latest version of the plug-in from our forum

Here is an example file structure of the VRayPattern For Maya for Linux / Mac OS X archive:

  • workstation – plugins for artist workstation
  • batch – plugins for batch render nodes
  • ui – scripts for Maya
  • tools – registration tools

Installation on Mac

Unpack the archive, open your preferred terminal application, obtain root permission and start coping files:

$ sudo -i
# cd ~/where/you/have/unpacked/the/archive

Select you Maya/V-Ray versions and copy the plugins. Here is an example for the default paths of Maya 2013 and V-Ray 2.3:

# cp workstation/maya/2013/23/x64/VRayPatternForMaya.bundle /Applications/Autodesk/maya2013/Maya.app/Contents/MacOS/plug-ins
# cp workstation/maya/2013/23/x64/libvray_VRayPattern.so /Applications/Autodesk/maya2013/vray/vrayplugins/

Install the Maya UI files:

# cp ui/AEVRayPattern.mel /Applications/Autodesk/maya2013/Maya.app/Contents/scripts/AETemplates
# cp ui/rdgroupVRayPattern.mel /Applications/Autodesk/maya2013/Maya.app/Contents/scripts/
# cp ui/rdgroupMenu.mel /Applications/Autodesk/maya2013/Maya.app/Contents/scripts/
# cp ui/rdgroupProc.mel /Applications/Autodesk/maya2013/Maya.app/Contents/scripts/

NOTE:

  • Change the installation paths depending on your setup
  • # - means that command should be executed with root permissions
  • Default V-Ray plugins path before Maya 2013 is
    /Applications/Autodesk/maya<MAYA_VERSION>/Maya.app/Contents/vray/vrayplugins/

Usage

  1. In menu choose: Create → R&D Group → VRayPattern.
  2. VRayPattern logo will appear. Use it to select VRayPattern.

Parameters Description

  • Base Object - Surface on which geometry will be propagated.
  • Render Base Object - Quick way to turn off the visibility in rendering of the base object.
  • Pattern Object - Propagated object.
  • Render Original Pattern Object - Quick way to turn off the visibility in rendering of the original object of propagating.
  • Crop Size - Size of the crop box of propagated geometry. All objects outside of the box – are ignored. Crop box also defines the repeating period of the geometry.
  • Fit Crop Box - Fit crop box within geometry saving rotation
  • Height - Height multiplier of the propagated geometry.
  • Shift - Displacement of the geometry against surface normal’s, which is covered by propagated geometry.
  • Surface Renderable - Ability to quickly switch visibility of the surface in render.
  • Map. Channel - Map channel on the basis of which the geometry will be propagated.
  • Use Real World - Work in real scale.
  • Tiling U/V - Mapping multiplier by U/V axis.
  • Polygon ID From/To - Range of polygon IDs of the surface on which propagation is happening.
  • Random Segment Count - Enables to split multiplying geometry into several parts and multiply these parts randomly on surface elements.
  • Seed - Random seed for random segments.

Troubleshooting

License error

VRayPattern: Incorrect license!

If you were having Maya running while applying a license, make sure to restart Maya after it.

In case of license malfunction and errors (which can be caused by disk reformatting, re-installation of the operating system or components replacement) you are free to address the developer at any time by sending your request for a new *.key file to the e-mail mail@rendering.ru.

However, in the case of total replacement of a computer by a new one new license is not provided more often than once in half a year.

Installation error

  • Make sure Maya is not running, please double check in task manager too.
  • Make sure you are installing with the administrator rights (on Windows 7 right click “Run as administrator”) .
  • Make sure you choose right installation path.

Other errors

Please, make sure you've downloaded and installed the latest version from our forum

If this haven't solved the problem please contact us at mail@rendering.ru, by sending description of the problem together with the following information:

  • VRayPattern version
  • OS version (including 32 or 64 bit)
  • Maya version (including 32 or 64 bit)
  • V-Ray version (including 32 or 64 bit)
  • Some screenshots will be useful
  • The scene file facing the problem (if possible)
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