Does anyone have any tricks for dirt projectors?

sina10 · August 2013

I can get it to work on my indoor test map, but when I take it to my outdoor map it wont show on the ground.
It will show if its over a rock or tent but not on the default ground.
Any tips?
I tried putting an invisible wall on the ground and putting projector over it, and that didn't work.
Thanks in advance.

rogu3ish · August 2013

I had real problems with dirt projectors outside. I was trying to make a dirt path, and at least in the Foundry test environment some of the dirt patches would randomly disappear from run to run. If it's just a few patches here and there, just keep playing with the projection angle and height until you get it to work. If you're planning to make some sort of path or use a large number of them, you might look for an alternative. I think there's a roughly rectangular-faced rock with a built-in dirt projection.

pris23 · August 2013

rogu3ish wrote: »

I had real problems with dirt projectors outside. I was trying to make a dirt path, and at least in the Foundry test environment some of the dirt patches would randomly disappear from run to run. If it's just a few patches here and there, just keep playing with the projection angle and height until you get it to work. If you're planning to make some sort of path or use a large number of them, you might look for an alternative. I think there's a roughly rectangular-faced rock with a built-in dirt projection.

There are some cobblestone paths that are very old looking that you could also use to make a path with. They allow the dirt and grass to poke through the stones so it looks overgrown and more like a countryside path than a road when you tweak it a little. I have never tried to use the dirt projectors myself, but I know that some of the other projectors have taken quite a bit of time and patience for me to place them correctly. Good luck!

rogu3ish · August 2013

pris23 wrote: »

There are some cobblestone paths that are very old looking that you could also use to make a path with. They allow the dirt and grass to poke through the stones so it looks overgrown and more like a countryside path than a road when you tweak it a little. I have never tried to use the dirt projectors myself, but I know that some of the other projectors have taken quite a bit of time and patience for me to place them correctly. Good luck!

Yep, I used some cobblestones in my latest quest, and they look great. They're pretty expensive on the detail budget, though, so I could only afford to put in a few.

neverwinter1776 · August 2013

My advice.....
Don't use them.

Projectors are ok for some small detail work, or a bloodstain here or there, or even a small patch of ice, or dirt.
But, my main reason I don't use them is that the DO NOT receive shadows. Now this is not too noticeable in small doses (I still see it though), but looks odd to me in a large patch.

There are a couple of semi-flat rocks with dirt on top (still not the best solution as it's not really flat).

Another wish list item. Either a proper dirt path detail, or have the projector "blend" with what it's being projected on -- Multiply, add, etc, with an alpha map....

NW1776

sina10 · August 2013

I used the cobblestone paths, I wanted dirt but after fighting with the projectors for an hour I gave up until they can improve them.

pris23 · August 2013

sina10 wrote: »

I used the cobblestone paths, I wanted dirt but after fighting with the projectors for an hour I gave up until they can improve them.

I was trying to think of a way to do this and there are some small rock discs that you could place as the path. Just place them really close or even sunken into the ground a little. Then you can use the projectors and it will show up. I know that you used the cobblestones already, but if they still aren't the look you are going for then maybe this idea can help.

sina10 · August 2013

pris23 wrote: »

I was trying to think of a way to do this and there are some small rock discs that you could place as the path. Just place them really close or even sunken into the ground a little. Then you can use the projectors and it will show up. I know that you used the cobblestones already, but if they still aren't the look you are going for then maybe this idea can help.

I tried that trick with multiple objects, and it never looked right. Hence the hour of fighting. But thanks for suggestions.

Does anyone have any tricks for dirt projectors?

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