Problem with "NiAlphaProperty"

[Performer]

Hi.

 

I'm not only new to this Forum, i'm also new to Oblivionmodding, but i've managed to learn enough about Blender and Nifscope to do what i want. Which would be adding digitigrade Feet to the Khajiit. But now i have the Model running, so i'm at the Point where i have to make a new Texture, and i've run into a Problem that i just can't find any Info on:

 

The very Moment i add "NiAlphaProperty" to the "FemaleLowerBody"-Nif, it stops showing specular Lighting in Game. So the reflective Shine on the Fur is no longer present on the Legs - and i want it back ! :(

 

(I do this because the Ancle is much higher on the new Feet, so i need to remove the lower End of the Legs, to prevent it from clipping into the Feet. While turning this Part invisible isn't the perfect Solution by any means, modifying the mesh would result in ludicrous Extrawork afterwards.)

 

Some (maybe) useful Information:

- i'm working with BAB

- i didn't change any Part of the Bodymesh, i added my new Feet as "Shoes"

- i only modified the Leg-Nif, adding NiAlphaProperty and setting it to "Enable Testing" and "Always"

- i use DXT5 for the Bodytexture

- the Bodytexture doesn't seem to be the Source, because the Problem persists, even if i save it without any Alpha

- i didn't touch the Normalmap

- under Water, the transparent Parts of the Legs are bright, as if they weren't obsucred by Water (which is likely a different Problem)

 

:wallbash: Does anybody have an Idea what i'm doing wrong ?

Or is there further Information that i need to provide, or would a Screenshot be helpful ?

[Vagrant0]

Things with alpha properties set don't work too well within the engine. Either they disappear when another alphaed aspect is infront of them, or they look wierd when in non-standard conditions. Things like shaders (spell effects) would probably also trigger issues with this method you're using. The easiest answer is to just alter the leg mesh to better match the feet, or to alter the feet to better match the leg mesh.

 

These complications are exactly why there hasn't been an attempt to make beast races look more like they did in morrowind. Trying to replicate those looks when you're limited to a single mesh set for all races just creates too many problems beyond just the feet. (have to alter leg mesh. Have to alter other feet/footwear meshes to match new leg).

 

If you're determined to play out the alpha thing, you might want to try using DXT1 with alpha, you'll lose some resolution on the texture, and be limited to either 100% opaque or 100% transparent (white and black alpha, no grayscale), but it should cause fewer rendering issues.

[Performer]

Thank you for trying to help, Vagrant !

 

These complications are exactly why there hasn't been an attempt to make beast races look more like they did in morrowind.

That's not quite true. A creative Person made something of the Kind for the Argonians - which is actually what made me try to do it for the Khajiit.

Have a Look here: Drakes Lair

 

If you're determined to play out the alpha thing, you might want to try using DXT1 with alpha, you'll lose some resolution on the texture, and be limited to either 100% opaque or 100% transparent (white and black alpha, no grayscale), but it should cause fewer rendering issues.

Didn't help sadly, instead it didn't even look transparent anymore...

 

Things with alpha properties set don't work too well within the engine. Either they disappear when another alphaed aspect is infront of them, or they look wierd when in non-standard conditions. Things like shaders (spell effects) would probably also trigger issues with this method you're using.

I noticed the transparent Parts let me look through the other Leg, too, and the Ground beyond, so that i see the Sky underneath. But such Imperfections don't bother me much - it already looks so much better than with human Feet. And it even animates nicely. (I decided to add a Screenshot - it also shows the Specular-Problem)

 

What i don't understand is why specular and transparency work just fine for Hair. Hair doesn't even have the Problem of revealing the Sky. But checking out a Hairmodel and its Textures, i couldn't find a Difference that helped me - is Hair handled differently ?

 

 

...i did some further Testing while writing this, and i found that changing "NiMaterialProperty" to something other than "Skin" makes Alpha and Specular work together. But it still looks different, and i obviously can't do that anyway, because it would break all other Races. ...now i fear that there's little Hope.

[Vagrant0]

(One little Bump.)

 

So, my Texture approaches beeing done. I guess the Silence here means there's no Way to activate Transparency on a Character, without deactivating specular Lighting at the same Time...

...or can anybody think of a Workaround ?

It might just be something to do with your videocard or how you're doing it. I've been using specular and transparency together lately for my mod, and havn't noticed any issues. Although those were on statics. As far as the usage on chatacters go I really can't tell you anything. For some reason I can't even get alphas to work on the mesh correctly in game. It may even depend on the body mod being used and how textures are applied (using exnems nude, with high detail textures).

[Performer]

I've been using specular and transparency together lately for my mod, and havn't noticed any issues. Although those were on statics. As far as the usage on chatacters go I really can't tell you anything.

Specular and Transparency works even on Characters, for me - but only if i change the "NiMaterialProperty" to something other than "skin", causing even more - and Way worse - Problems.

 

...or can anybody think of a Workaround ?

Looks like i found one myself. :woot:

I haven't tested it yet, though, and will post once i have.

 

 

Edit: Now i've tried, and sadly, it doesn't work. Although theoretically it should be possible. I'll explain it - probably someone with more Nif-Knowledge than me can shed some Light on the Issue.

 

As is widely known, there's sometimes an Issue with transparent Objects in Oblivion, where Parts that lie under the transparent Layer are not drawn. This can be seen in the Picture i attached, in the Middle. There i have the lowest Part of the Legs transparent, and where it lies over my Footmodel, the Feet are invisible, too. This only happens if the Feet are set as "Skin" in NiMaterialProperty (if not, it looks fine, like in the left Part). Now what i hoped for was to use this Glitch the other Way around: I set the Feet transparent to remove the lower Part of the Legs (or rather i'd have added an additional Object to do it, so that the Feet would still show) - but as you can see in the right Part of the Picture, only the Feet turned invisible.

 

My first thought was, that probably Body and Armour (I added the Feet as Shoes) where handled differently, but exchanging the Nifs proved this to be untrue. There must be a certain difference in the Nifs themselves, as far as i can tell.

 

Advice ? :rolleyes: