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Translucent Shiny Glass?

Love Hastings
#66666
Join date: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 4,094
01-19-2009 19:52
A quick search didn't reveal this particular combination, and I don't recall seeing such a thing in SL, so...

Is it possible to create translucent (coloured) glass which is shiny? If so, what's the basic technique?

Thanks!
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Ceera Murakami
Texture Artist / Builder
Join date: 9 Sep 2005
Posts: 7,750
01-19-2009 19:56
Being shiny and being even 1% transparent/translucent are mutually exclusive options. The instant you change the transparency value to anything other than zero, or any time you use a 32-bit texture, the "shiny" feature for that surface is disabled.

There may be some obscure trick, like overlaying an invisiprim or something, but what you're asking for is impossible in normal building practice.

You could do opaque colored glass, and make it shiny. But not translucent at all.
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Love Hastings
#66666
Join date: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 4,094
01-19-2009 20:08
From: Ceera Murakami
Being shiny and being even 1% transparent/translucent are mutually exclusive options. The instant you change the transparency value to anything other than zero, or any time you use a 32-bit texture, the "shiny" feature for that surface is disabled.

There may be some obscure trick, like overlaying an invisiprim or something, but what you're asking for is impossible in normal building practice.

You could do opaque colored glass, and make it shiny. But not translucent at all.


Yes, I learned that the hard way. I didn't immediately see a way to use an invisiprim, since adding any transparency makes the underlying object a 32bit object, and then portions of it will disappear. I guess I'm wondering if there is an obscure trick for getting what I want.
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Anya Ristow
Vengeance Studio
Join date: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 1,243
01-19-2009 21:20
You can make an invisiprim shiny, but anything inside it that is even a little transparent will disappear. A shiny invisiprim is slightly dark. You can't color it or use any semi-transparent texture at all.

So, if by "translucent colored glass" you mean mostly-transparent and smoke-colored, then yes, you can.
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VonGklugelstein Alter
Bedah Profeshinal Tekstur
Join date: 22 Dec 2007
Posts: 808
01-19-2009 21:40
I managed to make some super real looking glass textures lately.. they are a ton of work but it is definetly possible.

What kind of glass are you looking to do? If you can be specific , I might be able to guide you
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Chosen Few
Alpha Channel Slave
Join date: 16 Jan 2004
Posts: 7,496
01-20-2009 05:42
Shiny invisiprims actually look quite good, very convincing as shiny glass. If you want to color, or otherwise decorate one, put a slightly larger semi-transparent prim around the invisiprim. The effect works very well.

The only catch is that avatars and other 32-bit textured objects that pass behind the glass will be hidden by it, so it's not something you'll want to use everywhere. In the right setting, though, it looks great.

If an invisiprim isn't a practical solution for a particular window, then your other option is to paint (or bake) faux shine onto a translucent texture. I'm guessing that's what VonGluckstein was talking about. This can also look really good if you do it well. It just won't behave dynamially; the reflections will be static, so won't appear to change as you move around. People have come to accept that as "realistic enough" by SL standards.
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Love Hastings
#66666
Join date: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 4,094
01-20-2009 08:30
Thank you for the suggestions. I'll play around and see if what happens with the invisiprim wrapped by a semi-transparent prim, but I don't think it'll work for my particular application.

Part of the effect I wanted really requires dynamic shine, so I might rethink my approach entirely.

And thank you for the inventory offer VonGklugelstein Alter - I'll have a look tonight.
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VonGklugelstein Alter
Bedah Profeshinal Tekstur
Join date: 22 Dec 2007
Posts: 808
01-20-2009 13:30
From: Chosen Few


If an invisiprim isn't a practical solution for a particular window, then your other option is to paint (or bake) faux shine onto a translucent texture. I'm guessing that's what VonGluckstein was talking about. This can also look really good if you do it well. It just won't behave dynamially; the reflections will be static, so won't appear to change as you move around. People have come to accept that as "realistic enough" by SL standards.


It also takes some luck .. not every glass texture I try to make do comes out good enough to brag about. Yes it is static and semi realistic and since it can't be seen from my other house.. its close enough for me too.. not like those nasty grey blah blobs that everyone is so obsessed with. I am very glad I am not in that business..because at least some stuff I make looks decent.

Also

it appears that a lot of people are referring to the " Mirroring of a build under a partially transparent floor as shiny..

That is a nice way to approach a reflection.. build an entire building upside down and fllipped just to make the floor look shiny hahahah - I bet that there are sculpty specialists working on that problem right now as we speak..?


Primhappy is better than PrimPoor..
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Nectere Niven
Gadget Junky
Join date: 12 Jan 2007
Posts: 211
01-20-2009 16:36
my trick for shiny window glass -aside from the aforementioned shiny invisiprim- is to use a gray to white texture, repeated and tilted x degrees so it appears to have streaks of shine, set to 60% transparency, color it darkish green/blue then put a .01 glow on it.


Maybe I am only fooling my computer monitor, but the slight glow plus the very light streaks makes a convincing shiny glass to me - you could use a corner shade texture too, that would look nice as well. anyway.

Good luck :)
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Zoey Helgerud
Overqualified
Join date: 13 Jun 2007
Posts: 44
01-21-2009 20:11
Shiny really doesn't work with transparency. I suggest using a texture to get the desired effect