How do I create a 3D Transparency Map – AE + ZAX

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi Joe,

I actually used one of those in my college radio days. Great microphone!

Figuring out how to create the map depends on how you built the mic…. whether the shape is considered an edge (my assumption here) or a front or rear face.

In the case of edges, you need to remember that Invig wraps the map from the lowest, leftest portion of the object all the way around, sort of like a ribbon around the sides of a box. When the edge is curved, distortion naturally happens. The simplest way to see what’s going on is to create an image of a grid of squares with numbers in them. Once you have that, you can determine what sort of distortion you’ll need to do to the transparency map to get it to look like. The transparency map will be a grayscale image applied to the transparency channel of the material you’re making.

Hope this helps.

Jon

[Joseph M. morgan]

Jon,

It does help, as I’ve never thought of numbering a grid. You are correct that it is an edge. Look here:

https://71.15.100.36/temp/

There are 3 files there. “MicProject.jpg” is a frame of the mic as I have it now. “Top Half Mic.ai” is the edge profile for, well, just that. “Transparency Map.jpg” is an export of the map as a jpg. I have it exported as a Targa file and using it as a Layer Map, offset a little to move the edges to the back. I will eventually do a camera fly by, but for now, I’m getting along with that.

As you can see, however, the holes are stretched towards the top. The only theory I have is that the map isn’t “tall” enough, and is therefore stretched vertically.

Joe

[Michael Hancock]

I just want to say that your work is BEAUTIFUL! That mic looks amazing! Well, done. Very well done. How you guys are able to make stuff like is a mystery to me. WOW.

Mike.

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi Joe,

You’re almost there. The aspect ratio of the map should be the same as the aspect ratio as the object you’re trying to cover… height to width. You may be able to use a photoshop distortion filter to apply the inverse of what the map is doing on the object, so the circles aren’t distorted.

Great job so far,

Jon

[Joseph M. morgan]

OK… making more sense. I suppose, too, that the width should be minimally the circumference of the mic? And the height should be minimally the height plus half of the circumference of the top? Then work out the aspect from there?

Here’s a draft of the final plan…without the corrected map.

https://71.15.100.36/temp/Final%20Composition.jpg

Joe

[Joseph M. morgan]

Thanks… I’m learning as quickly as I can.
Joe

[Joseph M. morgan]

There is something wrong. I made the width of the holes map the same as the circumference of the mic. Then I added holes vertically until the aspect ratio was as close as possible (fractions of an inch different). I reloaded the map into AE. No change. So I removed the layer and replaced it with the reloaded map. No change. It looks identical to before.

Do I have to totally zap the material for the top of the mic and rebuild it?

Joe

[Joseph M. morgan]

Jon… thanks for your help. I think I’ve got it. Here is the final comp (awaiting approval from client)…

https://71.15.100.36/temp/Final%20Composition.jpg

I was not exporting the new transparency map correctlyl, which is why it didn’t change. It probably still doesn’t look right if I look at the top of the mic… but since we’re not looking at the top…. it works.

I touched it up by using the transparency map as a bump map as well…. it added a nice touch.

Any input would be appreciated….

Joe

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi Joe,

It’s really coming along. Thanks for sharing.

One thought – you might want to play with the reflection map so it appears to contain colors or even suggestions of elements in your scene.

Jon

[Joseph M. morgan]

Thanks for all your help Jon. At the end of the day ( or two days ), I still would like to find out how the numbered grid works and how to apply it to a 3D project for both bump maps and transparency maps.

I hope I understand your suggestion, and though it easier to add a reddish glow … still not sure if it is what you had in mind, but I think it looks pretty nice now. My client is happy anyway.

One last question, if you don’t mind. I put the mic together by designing every part and assembling it much the same way as I would if I was actually building it. I understand 3D ( from my design days ). Would this have been easier in something like Cinema 4D or another 3D app?

Joe