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VRayPattern For Maya Manual

VRayPattern For Maya 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

latest versions can be found on our forum

System Requirements

Operating system:

  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Mac OS X

Maya versions:

  • Windows: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
  • Linux: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
  • Mac OS X: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

V-Ray versions:

  • Windows / Linux / Mac OS X: 1.5, 2.0, 2.2, 2.3. 2.4

Architecture:

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

NOTE:

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

Windows

Installation on Windows

 VRayPattern for Maya installer

Read the license agreement carefully. If you accept the license the click “I Agree” otherwise press “Cancel”:

 VRayPattern for Maya installer

Choose Maya version, V-Ray version and the architecture:

 VRayPattern for Maya installer

Check installation paths

 VRayPattern for Maya installer

Start Maya and enable Load and/or Auto load in Window → Settings/Preferences → Plug-in Manager for the VRayPattern plug-in.

Activation on Windows

Installation on Windows DR nodes

Copy vray_VRayPattern.dll from MAYA_ROOT/vray/vrayplugins to VRAY_STANDALONE/vrayplugins (or MAYA_ROOT/vray/vrayplugins) on render nodes.

For example, from:

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Maya2012\vray\vrayplugins

to:

C:\Program Files\Chaos Group\V-Ray\Standalone\vrayplugins

Uninstall

To uninstall VRayPattern use the uninstaller: Start menu > R&D Group > VRayPattern For Maya > Uninstall

Linux

Installation On Linux

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

Unpack the archive, open your preferred terminal application, obtain root permission

Installer has a graphical interface on all supported platforms:

$ sudo -i
# VRayPatternForMaya-x.xxx.run

or you can also run text installation mode

$ sudo -i
# VRayPatternForMaya-x.xxx.run --mode text

In case of problems with installer you can download full archive here (150mb)

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/

Activation on Linux

Installation On Linux Batch Render Nodes

Run installer and choose “Batch”

or copy files manually

Download full archive here (150mb), Select you Maya/V-Ray versions and copy the plugin files:

e.g.

# cp plugins/batch/maya2012_vray22_x64/VRayPattern.so /usr/autodesk/maya2012-x64/bin/plug-ins/
# cp plugins/batch/maya2012_vray22_x64/libvray_VRayPattern.so /usr/autodesk/maya2012-x64/vray/vrayplugins/

Installation On Linux DR Nodes

For V-Ray “Distributed Render” node installation you only need to copy V-Ray plugin:

# cp libvray_VRayPattern.so /usr/autodesk/maya2012-x64/vray/vrayplugin/

Uninstall

OS X

Installation on Mac OS X

 VRayPattern for Maya OS X installer

Read the license agreement carefully. If you accept the license the click “I Agree” otherwise press “Cancel”:

 VRayPattern for Maya OS X installer

Choose Maya version, V-Ray version and working mode:

 VRayPattern for Maya OS X installer

Check installation paths

 VRayPattern for Maya OS X installer

Start Maya and enable Load and/or Auto load in Window → Settings/Preferences → Plug-in Manager for the VRayPattern plug-in.

In case of problems with installer you can download full archive here (150mb)

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/

Activation on Mac OS X

Open your preferred terminal application and start the registration utility:

$ /Library/RDGroup/bin/VRayPatternForMayaRegistration

This will generate 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:

$ /Library/RDGroup/bin/VRayPatternForMayaRegistration ~/Desktop/yourlicensefile.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

Installation On OS X Batch Render Nodes

Run installer and choose “Batch”

or copy files manually

Download full archive here (150mb), Select you Maya/V-Ray versions and copy the plugin files:

e.g.

# cp plugins/batch/maya2012_vray22_x64/VRayPattern.so /usr/autodesk/maya2012-x64/bin/plug-ins/
# cp plugins/batch/maya2012_vray22_x64/libvray_VRayPattern.so /usr/autodesk/maya2012-x64/vray/vrayplugins/

Installation On OS X DR Nodes

For V-Ray “Distributed Render” node installation you only need to copy V-Ray plugin:

# cp libvray_VRayPattern.so /usr/autodesk/maya2012-x64/vray/vrayplugin/

Usage

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

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.

Parameters Description

 Parameters

  • 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 key, 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 license key to mail@rendering.ru.

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.

Network License error

  • check the license server by pressing “quiry” in Server Manager
  • check that the client can connect to the server by pressing on “quiry” in License Manager
  • make sure you restart the client after assigning server address and port (for environmental variable to take effect)
  • check the output from running the following mel command
getenv RDGROUP_CERBER_ADDRESS

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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