Alpha map for 1 alpha 8 texture

[Graptopetalum]

Hi,

I've just made a model in 1 alpha 8, exported it as mxh and imported it into Blender. Now I want to render it using Cycles so I have to change the materials. This requires making an alpha map of the texture png. The last version of Makehuman I used had transparency so this was easy. 1 Alpha 8 doesn't and to make matters worse, the background is the predominant color so I can't select it with a magic wand. Does anybody know a way round this?

[RobBaer]

Now I want to render it using Cycles so I have to change the materials. This requires making an alpha map of the texture png. The last version of Makehuman I used had transparency so this was easy. 1 Alpha 8 doesn't and to make matters worse, the background is the predominant color so I can't select it with a magic wand. Does anybody know a way round this?

The .png format can produce both RGB or RGBA images where the "A" stands for alpha transparency. With alpha 8 MakeHuman supplies the images for the variaous assets as RGBA images meaning that the transparency is available from the .png itself now. By way of example, I'm attaching a picture of how how a simple Cylces Node Layout might look for handling MakeHuman Alpha 8 eyes. This node pattern is pretty useful as a starting pattern for almost all MakeHuman Alpha 8 materials you want to use in Blender Cycles.

Hopefully, this will meet your transparency needs.

[duststorm]

This requires making an alpha map of the texture png.

I'm curious why you would need transparency? If I understand you correctly, you are referring to the body texture. The new MH mesh does not need any transparency on the skin.

If you are referring to the fact that you have no skin texture on your human: select a textured material from the materials library (any skin material but the default will do).

[Graptopetalum]

The .png format can produce both RGB or RGBA images where the "A" stands for alpha transparency. With alpha 8 MakeHuman supplies the images for the variaous assets as RGBA images meaning that the transparency is available from the .png itself now. By way of example, I'm attaching a picture of how how a simple Cylces Node Layout might look for handling MakeHuman Alpha 8 eyes. This node pattern is pretty useful as a starting pattern for almost all MakeHuman Alpha 8 materials you want to use in Blender Cycles.

Thanks, this solves the problem.

[Graptopetalum]

I'm curious why you would need transparency? If I understand you correctly, you are referring to the body texture. The new MH mesh does not need any transparency on the skin.

What I've read and seen on Youtube videos leaves me to believe that an issue with Cycles using Makehuman textures relates to Cycles having a problem with transparency. I assume this meant that it used transparent bits of the texture image when it should have just used the non-transparent bits, which messed up the coordinates. Anyway, the eyelashes certainly need transparency and I think the eye lashes do as well.

[duststorm]

Anyway, the eyelashes certainly need transparency and I think the eye lashes do as well.

Yes indeed, but they are different textures, completely separate from the texture used on the skin.