Repeat that again please
Something that often disturbs me, and disturbs most clients as well, is that repeating pattern that occurs when you use bitmaps or, in this case, the procedural Tiles map that is not properly adjusted.
I recommend to my classes to use the procedural maps in 3ds Max as much as possible for greater flexibility when making changes to your materials. There are, of course, times when you need to use it map images to find patterns within your materials, but the ability to quickly edit all of a maps parameters can be paramount to productivity.
What's wrong with this picture?
The first image shown here with represents a typical brick pattern created with the Tile map. The size of the each break is 8 inches long by 3 inches high so I've set the count to 3 bricks horizontally and 8 courses vertically so that the aspect ratio of each brick corresponds to its physical size. This particular pattern would cover an area of 2' x 2', so that's what I've set my UVW Map modifier to. The fade variance has been increased to randomize each brick in the pattern and the result is a very distinct pattern every 2 feet across the face of the wall which looks very amateurish. The problem stems from the fact that the fade variance only works on a sampling of bricks in the pattern, i.e. 24 bricks in this case.
The fix is simple
To reduce the apparent tiling to a point where it's not noticeable by most viewers you simply need to increase the number of bricks in the sample and adjust your settings accordingly. In the second image you'll see that I've changed the number of bricks to 30 horizontally and 80 vertically, resulting in 2400 bricks in the sample to distribute the randomness over a much larger area.
You can't fit 2400 bricks in a 2' x 2' space, so I've increased the size of the UVW Map modifier to cover 20' x 20' (a factor of 10). However, the mortar spacing is not a distance but some sort of relationship and rendering at this point would show mostly mortar with just tiny bricks. You have to reduce the horizontal and vertical capsize to 1/10 of its previous setting. The results are much more pleasing to the eye. Although the bricks still repeat every 20 feet most viewers won't realize it.
Tiles map can be used for many things
While I've used bricks as an example here the exact same
process could be used to create roof shingles, poured concrete aprons or
highways, or floor tiles just to name a fewof the obvious, but I've also use similar techniques to create random board layups, knurling on the handles of equipment, or motorcycle tire treads.
