Tutorial: Introduction to Stencil Maps

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Stencil maps can help push your model to the next level by allowing you to layer materials exactly as you see fit. This tutorial by Jonathan Williamson,  covers how to create a stencil map, applying it to your model in Blender and then using it to layer two different materials via the Material Nodes

Blender Stencil Map Tutorial
I hope you and your users enjoy. I am working to try and get more education out
about blender and appreciate the community support. Have a great new year and
talk more soon.

Wes Burke

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    • tripdragon

      long video is long.
      It’s simple. Due to how blender works it’s in a stack.
      one material lays under a black and white layer that then shows the other image.

      In PS or Gimp each layer has a mask. <– Easier, but less control than a node will give you.

    • banor

      Looks pretty cool, will have to check out later…

    • http://www.taddmencer.com Tadd

      Very nice indeed! Awesome!

    • http://dithi.es DiThi

      There’s a simpler way if both materials have the same settings:

      http://www.yofrankie.org/glsl-splatting/

    • http://myspace.com/portzmonkey26 PortzMonkey

      I like it, I especially like it for the terrain idea. Definitely gives a slight advantage over painting each texture in. Just another great tool to add to my arsenal! Woot!

    • http://www.montagestudio.org Jonathan Williamson

      @DiThi, you’re correct, this is an even easier way. However, using the method from the tutorial you have complete control over EACH of the materials, so they may be completely different from one another in every aspect. Using the splat method you’re restricted to only changing the texture settings.

    • dyf_

      thanks Jonathan..
      i hope you make more materials and texturing tutorials.. you make things looks so simple

    • dyf_

      by the way, i wonder if the new texture nodes will enable you to use the stencil map as a texture node instead of creating a new material just for the stencil map.
      http://www.blendernation.com/2008/11/13/new-feature-in-development-texture-nodes/

      but i doubt that there would still be a problem, because the texture won’t know on which coordinates it should “mask” the materials.. so you need a new material just to set the texture mapping to UV.. i could be wrong though..

    • Domino Marama

      If you turn nodes off, you can add the image texture to the nodes material. Turn nodes back on and add a texture node (which now has the image as an option) and a geometry node. UV from the geometry goes into vector on the texture node.

    • T-Rev

      You can just use a texture node, you don’t have to make a whole material for the stencil texture.

    • http://byronsdesigns.com ByronK

      Very good tutorial! Thanks Jonathan. It was easy to follow.

    • banor

      Great, thanks. Perhaps it could be a little faster, but in general, it’s a fine speed. I would like to know about using normal maps, bump maps, spec maps, and the actual texture all mixed together to create stunning results. Maybe it is a simple process, but for me I haven’t succeeded.

      @Jonathan Williamson: I kindly request a video tutorial on making and combining multiple maps with a texture (using Blender for the 3D app where you combine the maps and texture.) This would be very beneficial to me: to be able to create my own normal, spec, and bump maps and combine them with a texture in Blender. Please consider producing a tutorial on these lines, it would be greatly appreciated (by me.) :)

      God bless,
      -b