KeyShot Forum

Technical discussions => Materials => Topic started by: quinyu on May 13, 2012, 04:48:03 AM

Title: How to create a non-uniformly colored gem?
Post by: quinyu on May 13, 2012, 04:48:03 AM
I would like to render a gemstone which has a non-uniform color, but instead would use an image as a color map (alignment options are like the usual, but I need a volumetric effect, not a surface decal.) To get a more visual idea, think ametrine, watermelon tourmaline etc. See pictures attached.

Thank you for all suggestions in advance
Title: Re: How to create a non-uniformly colored gem?
Post by: Ed on June 11, 2012, 05:01:37 PM
quinyu -

This is an interesting challenge.

As a proof of concept (I'm not trying to duplicate a real stone here), I made a label, reduced the opacity to 50% in Photoshop, and saved as a png.

I applied this semi-transparent label to a gem material and adjusted many of the gem's material settings to get this result.

I think it will work better with a label of perhaps 25% opacity as the internal quality of the gem does not come through if the opacity of the label is too high.

Not a true volumetric effect, but due to the label transparency, it may be close enough.

I would experiment and please share your results.

Ed




Title: Re: How to create a non-uniformly colored gem?
Post by: Dylan on July 08, 2012, 06:00:22 PM
That's a very good workaround Ed. I didn't think opacity on labels would work for that, your workaround gives a new use for labels.
Title: Re: How to create a non-uniformly colored gem?
Post by: starboy on November 10, 2012, 02:28:44 AM
how beautiful :P