Assign Multiple Materials To One Model

[bcgreen24]

Question: how do I assign multiple materials to a single model? For example, a 'skin' material for a human character's body, and an 'eye' material for the eyes?

 

Thanks!

Bryan

[Rodney]

The short answer is 'Named Groups'.

 

When you select parts of a model and name them those groups are saved and settings can change for those groups without effecting other groups. If you have a 'skin' group and an 'eye' group you would then set different settings for each *or* (to more closely address your question) materials can be dragged and dropped onto those groups.

 

There are additional (more advanced?) approaches to assigning materials which will allow multiple materials to be layered on top of each other even on the same group but in most cases where you just want to texture a part of a model that wont be necessary.

 

Also, don't forget that there are many ways to alter the surface of a model and materials are just one of them. Decals, patch images, materials and the Groups surface attributes are the primary ways and they can be used together. I usually start with setting a groups color to something simple and then work to more complex texturing from there.

[robcat2075]

Short Answer: Groups.

 

Select all the CPs that make up a part of the model you want to put a material on and a temporary "Untitled" group will appear in the PWS. Change the name to something useful before you deselect the CPS to make the Group permanent

 

You can drag materials from the Materials folder to a Group in the PWS

 

(you can also click on the Group in the PWS to reselect all its CPs inthe model window.)

[bcgreen24]

OK, awesome! I was trying to drag a material onto a selected, named group in the 3D window per the instructions in TAOAM, but that affected the whole model. Dragging it onto the name of the group did the trick.

 

Thanks!

Bryan