Label distortion

[jhiker]

I'm not very experienced with labels yet. Here's a coffee cup with a Keyshot logo in png format used as a label.
You can see the settings in the screen capture.
Any ideas why I'm getting the distortion on the label?
Thanks.

[Speedster]

I just started playing with decals, with great success.  Be sure your Scale U and Scale V are identical and synced.  Also, try Cylindrical Projection.
Bill G

[guest84672]

Correct - since you are using normal projection the decal may distort based on its size and shape of the underlying surface. In this example use Cylindrical Projection, as Speedster recommended.

[jhiker]

Odd - same file - same projection - label in a different 'U' position - now looks like this (Cup#1)

'Cylindrical' projection gave me something weird as shown in Cup#2.

[Speedster]

Looks like "map" time.  In your native CAD, before import to KS, be sure you map the outer face of the cup differently than the rest.  Like pink or something.  Then in KS apply the same "cup" material to both the surface and the cup.  Then apply the decal where it should be.

You may find a hicup with this.  I did one yesterday on a client's project.  Same decal, applied to two different locations on the same part.  I mapped one surface green, the other pink, and the model itself yellow.  When I imported it into KS, I applied the same material (a grey plastic) to everything.  Then the decal to each of the intended surfaces.  However, it would only "take" on one at a time, even tho each was mapped differently.  I used a tif with transparency.

I altered the material on just one face just a tiny bit, IOR I think, or specularity, that was not even noticable.  But, it made it a "different" surface, and allowed me to apply the same decal to each surface as it should.

Which begs the question- how do you prep or map for many different decals on a single surface, like on a race car?

Just a tip-
Bill G

[jhiker]

Thanks Bill. It seems like applying labels is something of a black art. There are so many ways to get it wrong!

[guest84672]

This is odd, Bill. You can apply as many labels to a surface / material as you want.

When using cylindrical mapping, you need to change the aspect ratio. Right now we don't maintain the aspect ratio of the label. Also, it is true that you need to have the surfaces as separate materials, since there is no "depth" parameter controlling the projection.

[Speedster]

This is odd, Bill. You can apply as many labels to a surface / material as you want.

Just won't take.  Keeps "swapping" it back and forth.  FYI, it's the same decal, as a tif with transparency.  Maybe that's the problem?  However, as I mentioned, just a tiny tweak of the base material on one of the surfaces does the trick.

There are so many ways to get it wrong!

.
Not really, it's actually quite easy.  Just like blowing a trumpet- at first you just can't, then the first time you do you get it right every time!  Like a lot of things in KS, you just have to plan out your native CAD model and prep it for KS.  I always "over-map" just to allow for changing my mind later.

Bill G

[XD1]

This is odd, Bill. You can apply as many labels to a surface / material as you want.

When using cylindrical mapping, you need to change the aspect ratio. Right now we don't maintain the aspect ratio of the label. Also, it is true that you need to have the surfaces as separate materials, since there is no "depth" parameter controlling the projection.

why is the aspect ration not maintained?