Surfaces - image orientation control

[TaniavH]

Intelligently handle directional textures such as wood grain. A single orientation (no more horizontal/vertical) with a natural direction based on element type, so that beams, columns and objects display the grain in the correct orientation.

[Barry Kelly]

You would still need horizontal and vertical materials, on a wall for example.

Fine if you are using timber for your column, you would want to grain to go vertically.

But what if that column was a brick pier, you don't want the bricks to go vertically.

Objects need to be scripted to use the correct texture mapping.

If they are scripted correctly then you can have just the one material.

Barry.

[TaniavH]

this could be handled simply by scripting the option to "align texture with linear elements" or something similar, that can be toggled on/off in the element, independent of the surface settings - nobody is suggesting bricks run vertically. Right now the only way to achieve this is either to create two fills with textures at 90 degrees to one another, or by using align surface texture in 3D - which is tedious and not efficient, especially on large projects.

[Barry Kelly]

But how would a column know that the timber texture is to be run vertically but the brick texture is to run horizontally?

To the column it is just a texture applied to a surface.

That is why you will still need horizontal and vertical textures.

Only object can be scripted as you want but the other element tools (columns, walls, etc.) can not be scripted.

Or there needs to be a setting in the texture to say columns is vertical, walls it is horizontal , roof it is vertical, etc.

Or an easy way to switch the orientation in the element rather than using align textures in 3D.

Barry.