Transparent material with texture maps?

[multitech]

Hi Guys,

Is there a material that can be 100 percent transparent but still retain visible texture maps?  I downloaded an OBJ file of a female character and some of the materials that I'm assuming should be transparent are opaque.  In the screen shot, you can see the female character's hair is layered on the white material.  Her eyebrows and eyelashes are also on a white material/model group. 

I tried some of the transparent materials like glass and thin film, but I lose texture mapping and only have the label option.  I also tried most if not every setting on the Advanced material, but didn't see a change it the right direction.  (I have no idea what I'm doing with materials!)   

Mike

[Chad Holton]

Hi Mike,

Hmm... first thought comes to mind is using glass, which you've tried, but did you put the texture on using labels and set the RI to 1? Maybe worth a shot.

Chad

[multitech]

Hi Chad,

I tried glass material at RI 1 and it still isn't 100 percent transparent.  I don't think the hair texture image can be applied with Label due to the image and surface complexity.  I tried an additional opacity map on the advance material.  It does drop the material to completely invisible, but I lose the hair color map also.

Mike

[TpwUK]

Find the texture maps that are being used and if they are jpeg's then convert to png and set the alpha to the white colour. If they are png, gif ot tiff already, then set the material to the opacity layer and there you should have options like colour, alpha or inverse, try each setting and see if that helps

Martin

[multitech]

Thanks Martin,  I'll check that out.

This is where I got the model if anyone wants to fool around with it.

http://thefree3dmodels.com/stuff/characters/lara_croft/14-1-0-5073

Mike

[multitech]

Sorry guys, I just realized I put this post under the wrong category.  Can a Moderator move it to the Tech Discussion Materials or Textures category?

Mike   

[TpwUK]

This the best i can do, I think the other colours are supposed to be highlights

Hope that helps you Mike

Martin

[multitech]

Thanks Martin, 

I tried the opacity map and it worked great.  I also found the hair bump map.  I couldn't figure out to do with the bluish purple hair texture file.  I'm not sure if you use that for specular or if it's used  for different rendering software.

Mike