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PhotoWorks surface color display?
2

PhotoWorks surface color display?

PhotoWorks surface color display?

(OP)
Hello,

I did something when installing SW 2006 SP1.0 that seems to have blown away my custom folder for PhotoWorks.  Meanwhile, I'm rendering some Hollywoods for a presentation and I noticed that when I apply a different material to a surface of a model, it doesn't show up until I render.  Normally I can see the surface colors (yes, I color the surface in PhotoWorks).

Anyway, I think this may be an Options setting, but I cannot seem to find the combination of using SW materials, etc. to get my materials to show up.  What I'm doing is a handle design--making the part all the undermolded handle color.  Then I want to select only the overmolded rubber surfaces to assign a material to them.  It works when rendered, but I don't see the different color--the whole part shows up as the same color until rendering, making some other issues a bit more confusing.

Any thoughts?  Again, this seems to be an effect of losing my customs folder, since it worked with SP0.0 of SW 2006.


Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

RE: PhotoWorks surface color display?

Where was your custom folder? In the SW install folder or separate?
Has the folder actually been deleted, or accidentally moved, or have you just lost the link to it?


Helpful SW websites  FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: PhotoWorks surface color display?

(OP)
Yeah, it was in my install folder--blew away my 2005 custom folder as well (very strange).  So it's actually gone, along with saved scenes, decals, etc.

I've messed with the options some more, but still have the same problems I mentioned above.


Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

RE: PhotoWorks surface color display?

Jeff,

I think you want to check the "overwrite solidworks properties" option under PhotoWorks/Options.  This will cause the face colors to change when you apply a PW material.

I have a tutorial on PW custom folders (basically a best practice)on my website www.robrodriguez.com.  this may help you eliminate the issue you just experienced from happening again.

Rob Rodriguez CSWP
www.robrodriguez.com
SW 2006 SP 2.0EV

RE: PhotoWorks surface color display?

(OP)
OK, maybe this is a bug.  I picked the surfaces I wanted to change, applied the material, and then saw no change in those surfaces until rendering (after CTRL-Q, Rebuild, shutting SW down, etc.).  I then copied the material from my handle and applied it to some freshly-cut grooves, and was able to see the material applied.  So I pasted the material to the original surfaces and it changed color!  So everything seems OK, but I don't know why the materials weren't showing before I pasted them over the surfaces--very strange.

Thanks for checking this out, CorBlimeyLimey!


Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

RE: PhotoWorks surface color display?

I never save any customization in the SW install folder for that very reason.

No backups of the custom folders?

Can you rebuild the custon stuff from the models you used it in?

Sorry, I never use PW, so have precious little knowledge of its options.


Helpful SW websites  FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: PhotoWorks surface color display?

(OP)
Thanks, guys (didn't see your post here earlier, Rob--sorry about that).  I've got the Overwrite SW Properties box checked and that seems to partially help.

No, I don't think I've got a custom folder backup anywhere--I'll check into it, but I normally don't backup anything in the program files.  I think I'll move my custom folder where my design files are and that way I'll have backups and no likelihood of deletion again--at least not without being able to regain the files from the Recycle Bin.

Thanks,


Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

RE: PhotoWorks surface color display?

Jeff,

I just checked this out on SW 2006 SP0.0.  Under PhotoWorks options I have (2) boxes checked.  I have "display progress/abort dialog" And "overwrite SW properties"  When I apply materials in PhotoWorks (custom and standard)The face colors of my part are changing to match the applied material.

Not sure why its not working for you??

Rob Rodriguez CSWP
www.robrodriguez.com
SW 2006 SP 2.0EV

RE: PhotoWorks surface color display?

(OP)
Thanks!  I think perhaps when I applied the materials the first time I didn't have the Overwrite SW Properties box checked.  Now I do, so the surfaces showed up in the rubber color.  However, going back to the Assembly, I see the part as all the same color again until rendering (showed up for a few seconds, then reverted).

So I think if I reboot, clear the Temp folder, and try this again I should be able to see my colored surfaces again.

By the way, I found an old copy of my Custom PW folder--copied everything to a secure (non-program file) area, and things are looking happier now.

Thanks!


Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

RE: PhotoWorks surface color display?

Nice!  You should travel to Vegas with luck like that.....

Rob Rodriguez CSWP
www.robrodriguez.com
SW 2006 SP 2.0EV

RE: PhotoWorks surface color display?

(OP)
No way--I'm so bad at gambling I actually defy the odds.  In fact, if I could bet against my own odds of winning, I'd have a shot at winning.


Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

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