Multiple Transparency Maps

[si-freak]

Hello guys I have a problem concerning texturing.

I have an object that needs multiple holes in it, made with maps that drive the transparency. I have opted for this instead of doing a boolean difference because my mesh will be subdivided later on, and as you all know boolean operations can create one hell of a mess sometimes...

Anyway, at the moment I have 2 grayscale textures applied to my mesh, both using its own projection. The thing is, I have to use a color mixer in order to plug multiple 'color nodes' in my material. So I did that, but I can never seem to have 100% transparency from my textures. I have tried to adjust the weight in the color mixer, but it doesn't work. My textures don't overlap, by the way. I have tried playing with the modes of the layers (Mix, Add, Screen, etc.) but it doesn't change much. I always seem to have an either totally transparent object, or having one texture to be opaque, etc... Anyway, I'd appreciate if anyone could help me out with the color mixer and transparencies, because it's not really clear and I've wasted enough time already..

Thanks in advance

SI-Freak aka Jean-Francois Bouchard
Softimage|XSI Modelling / Lighting Artist

[geoath]

hi
Instead of using the mix2color use the NODES>MATH>COLOR BASIC.
plug each textures in the input1 and input2 and in the operation choose ADD. plug the color basic node now in transparency.
if u want totally holes select NODES>IMAGE PROCESSING>INVERT and plug the color basic to this node too and finally the invert node to specular..now the light will not reflect on the holes greating a glass effect.
i hope this will solve your problem ..
george

[geoath]

an additional note..
mix 2 color is ideal for blending images or defining areas u want each image to appear with the help of a third image or an alpha channel as weight..
in your case i guess your goal is to add multiple textures in transparency with no blending that's the reason i wrote before about the color basic math node..
Also have in mind that if u'll subdivide your object u'll have to reassign the material again to the subd object..(unless of course u'll use the geometry approximation)..
if u'll find another way to handle your problem let me know..!!
have fun
george

[si-freak]

Thanks a lot for the answer, geoath. I am looking forward to try this approach as soon I as can

Thanks again for your time

SI-Freak aka Jean-Francois Bouchard
Softimage|XSI Modelling / Lighting Artist