Hey guys,
here's my first post in the Hair forum.
So, I certainly have a lot to learn about hair, so an early test of McKnuckles here with a nice
thick beard.
Now, in a nutshell, what benefit do texture maps have for hair?
They can control the color? But can they also control where hair is growing from?
Or do I have to drop the hair emitter onto a deliberate geometry group?

Oh, about my test, I started out by messing aroudn with 3d painter to make a stubble texture, but I wound up messing more with the hair emitter soon after.
so, one side of the face has the stubble map upnderneath the hair one the other side does not.....

http://www.vrcops.com/vids/beardmana.mov

Mike Fitz
www.3dartz.com

Looks good--reminds me of "Bluto".

The maps can control the density, length, color, and direction

Looks good. It makes him look like Popey's rival Bluto/Brutus.


Maps can do a lot for hair. It can soften the edge of the hair area (so it doesn't have that hard patch-shaped edge), it can give the hair color, and determine the length and thickness of the hair and more.

It's best to drop the hair material on the named group that you want to have hair and then create the maps and apply them to all the patches in that group to control the hair.

Jim

Edit: Rats, William beat me to it...

i feel the beard should be more directed, you know like not sticking straight out.

Hey guys, thanks for the info.

I will need to go through all the info I can find here on the forum soon about hair.

Black Mage.... I guess I have to change the beard, or face "destruction"?


Mike Fitz
www.3dartz.com

That's FUNNY! Time for a new signature...Magester! Did anyone mention the beard makes him look like Bluto?

Actually...a little time in 'Grooming mode' will get those hairs to lay flatter. You could try applying the same hair to his headhair as well...just an idear.

LOOKS GOOD!

Okay,
So I've made leaps and bounds in gaining some understanding of the hair system...
that's to say I've found out about how to use the maps to control certain features...

But, now I'm stuck. Has anyone figured out how to grow hair over time.
I think I am using the correct method when using the decal for length. I create a new
relationship for the percentage value box. then I change the relationship percentage for the lenght map over time and nothing happens.

Anyone?

Mike Fitz
www.3dartz.com

can you keyframe the length of the hair system itself, rather than the map percentage?

Hey Will,
Yeah, I can change the length of the hair over time via the "lengthen mode".
So if I ever wanted to animate the length I guess I could, as it would also give one better control over the
direction and shape I would think.

I guess that I should report the property issue to A:M reports.

Hey guys,
Okay, I think I'm getting the jist of decal controlled hair and 3d painter all at the same time!
Here is a quick test with some facial hair growth.
I'm going to do some more playing around with the head hair next!
- yeah I know I have to turn the shine down on his skin, especially in the beard area of the skin.

about 700kb
http://www.vrcops.com/vids/BeardMana4a.mov

Mike Fitz
www.3dartz.com

nice Mike! But there seems to be a little stray hair on his upper right cheek--stray brushstroke?

Hey thanks Will!
You know though, that brings me to another question I have....
The original decal that was controlling the beard density had a stray brushstroke, like you say.
But then I edited it and took that spot out.
But the hair still remained there.
I deleted the hair shortcut and reapplied - still there.
then I swapped the hair density map in and out and it was still there.
So either I'm doing something wrong or the brush stroke didn't get removed or the painter app didn't update the map in the model file?

Well to be seen, I'm too soon into the learning curve to start making "accusations" about what might be causing thos strays to remain.

Mike Fitz
www.3dartz.com

Hey guys,
Here is the latest on the beard.
I'm looking to put hair on his head and some hair eyebrows next.


about 700kb
http://www.vrcops.com/vids/BeardMan6A.mov

Mike Fitz
www.3dartz.com

Hey guys 2 more clips just for fun! This time with hair now added to the head of the model.


http://www.vrcops.com/vids/BeardMan8A.mov


http://www.vrcops.com/vids/BeardMan9A.mov

Mike Fitz
www.3dartz.com

That's a great beard, Mike. Adds a lot of character to your model.

hehe that looks good I love the smile