Hi,
we would like to introduce a new experimental feature. It enables you to create or modify textures for different clothes. The new textures cannot be used to wear and show to other AChat users, it is only an off-line development feature. Our goal is to offer this possibility to see if AChat users are interested in creating new clothes with texture modifications, and if quality works can be done this way. If both answers are 'yes', we intend to create the possibility of posting the best works in the shop, but the exact way is not planned yet. For now we would like to encourage you to try this tool, and post pictures of your work here in the forum.
How does it work?
When you are offline, type in the chat window the word 'tex' and press the 'Send message' button. A new window will be displayed, where you can select different clothes, and save or load the textures of the selected cloth in png format. To edit the saved texture you can choose your own way, we will not suggest specific texture editor and/or method.
To help texture editing here you can find UVW maps for the textures:
cloth_UVW.zip
shoes_UVW.zip
Short explanation about height maps:
Height maps are grayscale textures, where the different grays between black and white mean different 'heights' on the surface, giving the possibility to add the illusion of fine geometry structure (-> bumpy surface). Please save the following height maps and try to load them to the cloth textures, you will see how they create the described effect.
height_map_1.png
height_map_2.png
or zipped both together:
height_maps.zip
After loading the height maps they should appear on the cloth as follows:
working_height_map.jpg
If you cannot see this effect that means your video card lacks of required shader functions!
In this case we recommend to get a video card which supports shader model 3.
Texture properties
The properties (lighting, reflection) of the textures can be adjusted as described in the following short documentation:
clothed_textprop.txt
Compensation
the designer, whose work will be accepted and published in the shop will receive the following 'payment':
– A$5000-50000 on the designer's account depending on the complexity of the design
or
– payment in real $ as agreed between the designer and AChat before publishing the design
We will kepp adding information about this new feature according to your questions posted in this topic.
Regards,
tom
