Decal Creation Tool for Maya

digitalgibs · 19-03-2010, 12:40 PM

Hey guys. I wrote this trialware software for Maya users a while back ago, but it hasn't really taken off like I had hoped. Do you have any suggestions or questions about it? I definitely wouldn't mind going back into the plugin and making it better, though it pretty much does what it says, really fast and easy decals. Not sure what else I could do.

Decal Creator
Ofcourse you could turn around and say, "I'd rather do it the hard way" and I'd be okay with that too

.

If you are asking yourself "why the heck would I want this?" I've copy-pasted an explanation from the site.

Quote:

"Decal" is a term often used in the video game industry to describe a texture that is projected onto a small part of an environment. This texture is typically a blood splatter, bullet hole, sparse litter, patches of vines and weeds, graffiti, or even scratches and scuffs to add more detail to the environment. In modeling packages like Maya, an artist at a film studio might use addition uv sets with a layered shader. For video games those CG approaches are a run-time nightmare; even for modern rendering engines. The steps required to make these decals run-time efficient and aesthetically accurate is a mundane and arduous task to say the least. Enter Decal Creator!"

Craig Lewis · 19-03-2010, 02:07 PM

Although the price is very cheap. I guess the fact that it costs money is probably the reason it's not taken off as well as you'd hoped. Studios probably wouldn't see the need in buying a plugin to make decals when they're easy enough to make by hand... or the studio could probably make a similar plugin themselves.

I remember showing your plugin to a colleague a while back, and he thought it looked really useful. But rather than seeing if we could buy a copy, he just sent an email to one of our tools progammers to ask if he could make something similar.

digitalgibs · 19-03-2010, 02:24 PM

Thanks for the honesty Craig, I figured as much

. I was hoping that the low price and instant gratification of having it now would be enough to get people excited about it. I also figured that, for the price, it would cost more to get a programmer to make it (bug free and fully functional, etc.) than it would to just pay for it. Even a Jr Programmer costs ~$20 an hour + overhead, and there's more than an hour of work here, much more. Oh well, I guess my logic was flawed. Maybe next time.

Craig Lewis · 19-03-2010, 02:31 PM

Well, admittedly we never got anything similar made, probably for the reasons you just posted - so everyone just does it by hand.

I do remember at the time I couldn't get the trial of your plugin to install, so just gave up.

digitalgibs · 19-03-2010, 02:34 PM

If that is the case for anyone still interested, then let me know! I've only been able to test it on my licensed machines so it's always helpful to see how well it installs on other peoples machines. I've made a lot of changes to the installer since then. I did have some bugs because of all the x64 x86 junk, but hopefully that is sorted out.

digitalgibs · 24-03-2010, 04:12 AM

I thought about what you said Craig; about people just doing it by hand, just because. It tears me to see someone spend 30 minutes on 10 miliseconds of work. In protest, I've made this video.

YouTube - Decal Creator Short Commercial Enjoy!

19-03-2010, 02:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Craig Lewis Industry Artist 955 - 200	Although the price is very cheap. I guess the fact that it costs money is probably the reason it's not taken off as well as you'd hoped. Studios probably wouldn't see the need in buying a plugin to make decals when they're easy enough to make by hand... or the studio could probably make a similar plugin themselves. I remember showing your plugin to a colleague a while back, and he thought it looked really useful. But rather than seeing if we could buy a copy, he just sent an email to one of our tools progammers to ask if he could make something similar. __________________

19-03-2010, 02:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Craig Lewis Industry Artist 955 - 200	Well, admittedly we never got anything similar made, probably for the reasons you just posted - so everyone just does it by hand. I do remember at the time I couldn't get the trial of your plugin to install, so just gave up. __________________

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19-03-2010, 02:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
digitalgibs New Member 10 - 4	Thanks for the honesty Craig, I figured as much . I was hoping that the low price and instant gratification of having it now would be enough to get people excited about it. I also figured that, for the price, it would cost more to get a programmer to make it (bug free and fully functional, etc.) than it would to just pay for it. Even a Jr Programmer costs ~$20 an hour + overhead, and there's more than an hour of work here, much more. Oh well, I guess my logic was flawed. Maybe next time.

19-03-2010, 02:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
digitalgibs New Member 10 - 4	If that is the case for anyone still interested, then let me know! I've only been able to test it on my licensed machines so it's always helpful to see how well it installs on other peoples machines. I've made a lot of changes to the installer since then. I did have some bugs because of all the x64 x86 junk, but hopefully that is sorted out.

24-03-2010, 04:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
digitalgibs New Member 10 - 4	I thought about what you said Craig; about people just doing it by hand, just because. It tears me to see someone spend 30 minutes on 10 miliseconds of work. In protest, I've made this video. YouTube - Decal Creator Short Commercial Enjoy!