SOLVED Help with new terrain shader - Vertex Colors - assignments reset to black

I have been doing some testing with the new terrain shader. I have followed the PDF and used this video as a guide as well

I gave all my terrain pieces a separate vis group and attached them all to make one object as described in the PDF. I have painted and can export the 1 large terrain object and all looks fine.
My problem is when I try and separate the vis groups back to smaller objects I lose the paint.

If I collapse the stack I still see the paint. But when I select all the polys so I can separate the vis group I lose the paint.
If I leave vertex paint in the stack and select editable poly I lose the paint.

Can someone please help and let me know what am I doing wrong or if I'm missing a step?

Solution

Big thanks to Luc for his help. The problem was with 3ds max. I only had default 2010 3ds max where this is an issue. I needed to install service pack 1 and hotfix 2010 - 2009.09.22 and the issue is gone.

for more info check http://knowledge.autodesk.com/suppo...Vertex-Colors-assignments-reset-to-black.html

 

Thanks for the reply Luc

I have set the vertex colour chnl in properties. I do lose the vertex colour it all goes black again. When I export the objects and check them I have no blending. I only see chnl 1 texture.

 

I have 2 pc's and 2 different projects I have been testing and I get the same thing. Just tried convert to editable poly but didn't help. It must be something I'm doing wrong.

Do I have to select all polys to separate the smoothing groups? Cause thats when I get the loss of paint. Is there another way to separate the smoothing groups?

 

Are you selecting polys with a vertex paint modifier on top of that, or are you collapsing the VP and then selecting and detaching?

In theory this sequence, applied to a single mesh, should NOT produce any issue:

1) Assign Vis per Element/Piece etc.
2) Vertex Paint
3) Collapse Vertex Paint to Editable Poly
4) Recall Vis and Detach

 

I collapse the vertex paint to editable poly. Once I select the polys paint goes back to black.

 

I'm away from the PC atm for about 12 hours. When I get back I'll send PM Luc...I'm using 2010.

So you want uncollapsed max file

and a collapsed max file?

 

Thanks Luc. When I get back I'll send it

 

Try importing your model into a new scene, see if this error still comes across.

I had this once, took me a while to figure it out, in the end I ended up importing my model into a new scene and re-textured.

It does seem like you are missing a step however, will be interesting what step you missed after Luc has looked into it, happy to look also if need be.

 

Thanks Radar. I gave that a try but didn't work for me. Luc has tried my files and doesn't seem to have a problem with them, so it is either something I'm doing wrong (more likely) or something wrong with my max install.

 

Solution

Big thanks to Luc for his help. The problem was with 3ds max. I only had default 2010 3ds max where this is an issue. I needed to install service pack 1 and hotfix 2010 - 2009.09.22 and the issue is gone.

for more info check http://knowledge.autodesk.com/suppo...Vertex-Colors-assignments-reset-to-black.html

First post updated with solution