I am new to 3D Studio and need some hints on layering materials on a very basic level.

For example, if I create a surface (plane1) and assign a brick material and create a smaller surface (plane2) on top of plane1 and assign a stone material, how do I make sure that the stone layer (plane2) renders ONTOP of the brick (plane1)? My problem is that when I use Arc Rotate to look at different angles and then render the composition, the stone (plane2) doesn't always show on top of the brick.

What's the trick?

Thanks!

you dont need to use different planes to lay up materials. "composite" materials for example can multiply 2 or materials based on their opacity.

have a look at the help under composite.
you will also need to look at uvw mapping under help to position the materials.

best of luck
hope that points you in the right direction.

Thanks for the reply!

My only other question is this... I am importing an AutoCAD .dwg file that has sidewalks, roads, brick paving, etc. Can I use composite mapping to assign materials to each of these areas?

What I have been doing in the past is importing the AutoCAD file, selecting each layer ("sidewalk" for example), and extruding the object until it is visible. Can I use composite/UVW mapping in a scenario such as this?

Can assigning different channel numbers to each material help in this case?

if it comes in as one object, (may be easier to imort seperately) you can assign material channels (thus enabling mutiple uvw maps per object) and apply a multisubobject material.

workflow:
1:make a multisubobject material and apply to object.
2:select object.
3:modifypanel>mesh select.
4:select faces you want to map independantly.
5:modifypanel>material (with faces still selected)
6:select a material number. (this relates to the material number in your multisubobject material)
7:now you can apply a uvw map.
8:the uvw channel (in the uvw modify panel) corresponds to the map channel (these can be different for each map in a material)
9:repeat from number 3 for next material on the same object.....


sorry its a bit convoluted when typed out, best of luck all the same........
If anyone knows of an easier way please do tell i still cant believe its this much of a nightmare....

good luck
Te Anau

I'll give this a try... Thanks!!!