Snip....
Graffiti is another vastly under represented traincar motif. Asked Davesnow to work with me on Chameleon skinning a semi-random wrapper technology. Does anyone know whether you can apply a second texture (like an Alpha, mostly transparent though) dynamically as a second texture to the same attachment points? I know there is some chameleon tech around, and am told by John Citron it supports some random scripting. 16 alternate skins would be nice, but wouldn't want to do that size set for every traincar class, or type (specific kuid).
Reason could use the same mesh references... but will Trainz get flummoxed?
Or would the poly-count double using the SAME mesh as I figure?
I conjecture one should be able to attach an auxiliary mesh to a standard attachment point set using PEV's Attachment Maker and aligning a transparent mesh with random rust and graffiti over the pretty car's texture.
Would be interested if anyone is working out something like this, and be willing to help. My FAKE graffiti could be added to a texture library as stuff by a bad gang member just learning the fine art of defacing others property.
...Unsnip// Frank
I do know that an overlay of a semi transparent extra texture works with an attachment point. Even right over another existing semi transparent window or such. As a content creator it is SO EASY to place an extra panel/plane of a semi transparent texture with, say, rust, graffiti, bullet holes (Ukraine, WW II etc.), broken glass, whatever over an existing item of rolling stock or what have you close to where this is required. I know, as I have done this before in my previous past, what I did was to build a semi transparent close fitting box around a particular model for testing and as said this works beautiful in Trainz. To d/load as an extra for an existing model. Of course, either the creator of such model fits an attachment point for this or PEV's excellent attachment maker can do this.
One need not to use such box, just a simple mesh with several semi transparent panels placed where needed plus an extra texture map with these extra textures will be needed.
Edit: Inserted pictures of an overlay of graffiti (at that time as a test only to see if this works) to an existing background model:
Only when showing off some screen shots here in the forum a long time ago of graffiti and rust, bullet holes in windows etc., the usual "doomsday prophets" here were howling about extra materials being used, thereby causing extra overhead performance issues etc. and I dropped this project.
I should have persisted there and then, just to rub it up these "doomsday prophets" but I never got around to upload any such semi transparent boxes with such overlays for certain rolling stock or even scenery items with an attachment point as an extra to use with it.
Chameleon, well, I know nothing about that, however people dealing with or using Chameleon textures would know.
Do not check my created content on the DLS regards such overlays, there is nothing there.
Lennard
