Shader Baker... how to use and what aplications result?

Brycescaper

I've encountered the shortcut to 'shader baker' (on accident, I don't know exactly what it is).I never realy paid attention to it but it seems to have a useful purpose, inferring it preserving a figures integrety across other applications. How is it used and what is it used for? Ican't seem to get a straight reference out of the HELP resources in the software or on the site. Video linksand perhaps anecdotal uses by others in the community would be helpful. Thanks.

Catherine3678ab

Shader Baker can be used to bake the texture image to the article's templates.

Basic run down:

As I recall, go into "3Delight" render mode {not Iray}.
Have figure at defaults.
Add in all the lights required. {for templates I put lights at all the angles}
Go to: "Perspective"
Rather important: Select the object for baking textures.
Select all the surfaces to be baked.
Then go to the Shader Baker tab {on the Surfaces Tab}
EVERY time, select the "image path" {route never displays, don't worry about that} and select a folder you make first, say over on the Desktop.
n.b. After each use, be sure to return to that folder and slide all the keepers into another folder so they don't get overwritten. Before applying them to surfaces for mat files, put them into the proper Runtime subfolder(s).
Select desired options and size. .png is a good image type option. 4096 for image resolution if any amount of detail is desired.
I do not ask the plugin to apply these textures automatically.
Bake Mode: Depends upon desired end result. Can have 'every' surface done separately or have it done as one surface. Experiment ;-)
I leave the bucket size etc. at defaults.
When ready, "Bake" and go get a coffee or something.
When the plugin has finished the task, there should be images in the selected folder.

One good use of these baked images can be as templates as they include a 'buffer zone.' Used along with the regular templates in an image editor for making new textures.

When done, remember to return the type of render engine back to Iray or whichever is your preferred method.

oh yes. Do not have Iray mats applied to the subject. Use the 3Delight mats. {one can apply a basic 3Delight shader holding down the Ctrl key to select the option to ignore texture images so the basic images will stay put} AND {if applicable} "collapsed UV sets."