OTOY Forums

Maybe this is a lot to ask, but it would be really good to have a visual node-based procedural texture generator in Octane.

I used to use Darktree a lot before it was mothballed (and it doesn't work in Octane). A similar package I have seen but not tried is Genetica:
(http://www.spiralgraphics.biz/viewer/index.htm)

Having the ability to procedurally generate seamless realistic textures in Octane would be a dream. Finding seamless tiling textures requires a lot of hunting on the web and most of them look horrible when tiled because they repeat the same pattern, resulting in dozens of identical squares. A procedural generator extends itself over any sized area without repeating patterns or seams. A good generator can make very realistic natural textures and save loads of time and creating the patterns in a graphic flow-based way by linking nodes is also much simpler than other approaches.

Anyhow, since this is after all a wish list, I'm just putting it out there. . .
Am I alone in wanting such a feature?

I just found this tool that integrates into 3DS Max:

https://www.allegorithmic.com

This looks like it has the kind of functionality I am looking for. I suppose that I could use this in conjunction with Octane, but the question is would Octane be able to convert the materials?

It looks like this is an industry standard and has a lot of support, including in game engines like Unity:
http://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/ProceduralMaterials.html
If this is the case, it would be great if Octane provided direct compatibility with substances generated with their tools.

My first impression was that Allegorthmic is expensive ($590), but they have an indie version for $149, which I think is more reasonable for artists.

Another tool I found is NDO and 3DO:
http://quixel.se/
$99 for the suite sounds good but it doesn't look like it integrates into Max. Allegorithmic on the other hand integrates into Max, Maya, Modo and the big game engines.

Having used a node-based procedural generator in the past (Darktree), I know how much time they can save. I think most 3D artists haven't tried one so they don't know what they are missing

Anyhow, I bring this up as an encouragement for Octane to consider adding such capabilities or providing compatibility with one of these tools (ideally Allegorithmic, since it integrates into Max).

buggy wrote:Anyhow, I bring this up as an encouragement for Octane to consider adding such capabilities or providing compatibility with one of these tools (ideally Allegorithmic, since it integrates into Max).

Ideally working with one of those companies either via their API or other methods to integrate directly into Standalone - so all plugin users can benefit??