Re: geometry as stencil when painting in 3D?

Anonymous · ‎05-06-2017

Is there a way to use geometry as a stencil?

Here's my situation. I want to paint a density map for eyebrows. I have the geometry where the eyebrows should be. I want to paint a map that is all black on the head, and white only where the eyebrows should be.

I want to use the eyebrow geometry to mask where I'm painting. For example, if the head is currently all white, I want to paint black on everything except the eyebrows. I want to use the eyebrow geometry to prevent me from painting black where the eyebrows should be (i.e., staying white).

The "effect" would be sort of like putting painter's tape on a wall, painting the wall (including the tape), then taking off the painter's tape. There will be new paint on everything except what was under the painter's tape.

Is there a way to do this in mudbox?

Thanks!

sergimen2001 · ‎05-06-2017

Hi: For that painting efect you like to do, you can, 1st, sculpt the eyebrows via, stencil alpha, and next, paint the base color,(white), and so use the dry brush with the desired color for the eyebrows.

Be sure to go to the menu Windows>Preferences> Paint, and there turn off the option "Fast Dry Brush", to get an better resollution on this painting tool.

Remember to use an more small brush size with the Dry brush, if you like to paint over the top of more fine esculpted detail.

Greetings:
Sergio Mengual
3D Artist-3D Generalist-3D Character Artist

https://www.artstation.com/artist/sergiomengual

https://www.facebook.com/Sergio3D2D/

https://www.youtube.com/user/sergiomengual

Anonymous · ‎05-09-2017

Thanks sergimen2001.

Unfortunately, though, I am a newbie to Mudbox and I have only used it for texture painting. I understand the Dry Brush part of your answer, but I don't understand the stencil alpha part.

Can you clarify or point me to a web page that will explain how to use stencil alpha?

Thanks again very much for your reply.

sergimen2001 · ‎05-09-2017

Hi Drummingtaco.

The use of Stamps and stencils is very simple in Mudbox.

Select the painting or sculpting tool desired, and go to the Stamps tray, and select the desired stamp. Now this image,(color or alpha black and white) control how you add paint or sculpted details,(for sculpt with an stamp, is very possible you need to subdivide some times to be able to notice fine detailed sculpt).

In this video mine, made some years ago, you have an example of the use of the stamp/stencils in Mudbox, for painting and texturing:

Pay attention to the options for every tool, specially the Randomize option and Stamp spacing to get fine control of the efects you can obtain with the stamps.

The stencils, are simply imagesm, in color or Black and white, or with Alpha Channel,(transparent background), that appears in the screen in front of your model, to control, the painting,(painting with projection) or sculptin,(sculpting via projection). You can import your own images for use it like stecils, obviously. Mudbox have several good stencils in the Stencils tray, for start using, and probing it.

Another video example mine, using stencils for texturing models: