[Solved] Tutorials on creating alphas and strips ?

[stretch65]

Hi,

 

Are there any detailed tutorials around about how to create alphas and strips?  I'm a complete beginner at this, so I have no idea about 'alpha channels', file formats, or what layers I need to create.  I've googled this topic a few times but there seems to be a conspicuous lack of info on this subject.

[AbnRanger]

In the "Intro to 3D Coat" Playlist on 3D Coat's Youtube Channel, there are some videos that touch on it:

 

 

[AbnRanger]

Remember, some of the panels, pallets and tools have been recently renamed a bit, per many, many, many long-time requests. So, the Brush pallet is now the Alpha's, Materials Pallet renamed Stamps, although I think Andrew replaced it in the 4.5 Beta builds with the PBR Materials pallet.

 

For a list of the naming changes, you can checkout the new online Manual (which is still a work in progress):

http://3d-coat.com/manual/general/32-terminologychanges/

 

And Javis has a video covering Strips, too:

[digman]

If I have time in a week or so, I will make alpha and strip making tutorial... Till then the below will get you started. It is very easy to create alphas for 3DCoat.

First, you will need any paint program that will save PSD files like Gimp, Krita or Photoshop itself...

Check the image I uploaded and look at the 4 layers. That is the convention that 3DCoat uses for all it's alphas and strips.

 

3DCoat uses 127,127,127 grey for zero depth. Any lighter grey will be height and any darker grey will be negative height (intrusions) HeightMap layer.

Pure white for the Specular layer

Pure black for the EraseMask layer.

Color Layer is a transparent layer.

Make sure the layers names are correct as shown in my image.

Size of image is 512x512 or 1024x1024

 

What I do is first create my alpha image on the color layer and after I am done, I duplicate the color layer.

Next I merge the bottom color layer to the heightmap layer.

Then I rename the duplicate color layer to Color.

Side Note: I normally slightly blur my color and height map layer. It helps to get rid of any jaggy edges when using the alpha or strip.

Save the file as a PSD file.

Open up 3DCoat, Click on new and Select your PSD file.

Done for Alpha creating.

 

Strips and Alphas can both use obj models as a base for you to use. Select an obj model and 3DCoat will open a panel for you to adjust the model. Then after that it will be ready to use as a strip or regular alpha. 3DCoat will create the 4 layers for you...

Edited January 2, 2015 by digman

[stretch65]

Thanks AbnRanger - I'll have a look at the videos.  Thanks digman - you've always been a great source of help.  Using an OBJ to create the alpha/strip sounds the most appealing - I haven't quite got around to learning GIMP (so many programs to master!)

[SPACEY]

I'm having issues with the preset downloads. Could some of the new naming conventions be the reason? They are not showing up in the menus of education version 4.