Simple Gradient Floor Mat (I need to retire)

[sbecker]

Well it's official. I'm totally lost with VRay Mats. I can create the basic stuff with bumps etc. (I think) but can I create a simple material to be a solid alpha and then fade out to zero alpha? NOOO!

The partial manual lists the Material Weight as the 'Alpha' Channel. Simple enough. So why can't I just put in a circle gradient into this channel and have it work like an alpha in the original mat manager in C4D. (I do have a color in the diffuse, as well as a small reflection and a little specular).

I get a solid edge no matter what! I would never claim that Materials are my strongest skill in C4D but it's like I'm starting over completely.

I know that this is user error and not VRay but would someone shed some light on to my problem. I've been through the 'manual' but something is just not connecting in my noodle.

Thanks.

[rene]

I think you are after something like this.

http://www.reanan.com/download/VRAY/gradient.jpg

With transparency and reflections it helps to play around with these settings in the Vray option tab.

http://www.reanan.com/download/VRAY/gs01.jpg

If you’re interested, here is the scene file.

http://www.reanan.com/download/VRAY/gradient.c4d

[sbecker]

rene,

This is exactly what I was looking for. It appears I didn't have my diffuse layer set appropriately. It was way too high. Looking at the material weight as well, does this mean that VRay intereprets white as zero alpha and black as 100% solid?

Anyways, thanks so much. Sometimes it's the little things!

Stu

[rene]

You're correct, Vray interprets alpha values exactly the opposite way of Cinema 4D. C4D white is Vray black and vice versa. Say for example you have imported a Poser figure. You have to add a colorizer to the alpha’s of the eyelashes to invert the values so that black becomes white and white becomes black.

A simple rule and a simple fix. I however hope that they implement this “alpha fix” in the Vray material converter so this will be done automatically.