X-Rite Measured Materials

X-Rite materials are derived from data scanned from real paint samples with an X-Rite MA98 spectrophotometer. They can be applied to objects in the scene like any other material (with the exception of Decals), and can have some basic parameters adjusted.

To create new X-Rite measured materials, you must be running the Professional version of Showcase, and you must have the X-Rite MA98 and its associated plug-in.

Color accuracy and monitor calibration

The measured materials displayed in Showcase are only visually accurate if the display system is calibrated. Perceived colors can shift when moving from one display to another, particularly when using a laptop or an external monitor or projector. In order to achieve good on-screen color and a definite relationship to the scanned material, it is necessary to use a monitor calibration device such as the X-Rite i1 Display 2 or the X-Rite Color Munki. This should always be the first step, even if the shader is being used for design purposes.

Enabling the plug-in

The X-Rite material presets can be used at any time, but to create new measured materials from the X-Rite device, the plug-in for the X-Rite MA98 must be installed into the Showcase user folder.

The X-Rite plug-in can be used to adjust parameters on both the base and Professional versions of Showcase. However, measured materials can only be created on Showcase Professional.

To install the plug-in

Copy the file “XRiteCustom.py” from the Program Files\Autodesk\Showcase2011\extras\Interactive\ folder to the user folder at My Documents\Autodesk Showcase 2011\.
Restart Showcase.
The UI for editing advanced material properties and connecting to the USB X-Rite device will be enabled.

NoteThis plug-in will remain enabled as long as either the original “XRiteCustom.py” or the compiled “XRiteCustom.pyo” files are in the current user Showcase folder.

Acquiring a measurement

To build a color from a measurement in Showcase, follows these steps after the plug-in is enabled.

This can only be done with Autodesk Showcase Professional.

Make sure the X-Rite MA98 drivers are installed and the device is connected and powered on.
Copy an existing X-Rite material into the scene (either applied to an object, or right-click on the library material icon and select Copy to Scene Materials.
Open the material properties with Ctrl-M if an object with the material is selected, or right-click on the material icon and select Properties.
Click the Reset device connection button.
Measure the physical material with the X-Rite MA98 device.
Click the Apply measurement button.
NoteBe sure to duplicate this material if additional measurements are needed for comparison or study. Each application of the measured data will overwrite the previous, without undo.
Rename and Save your material to your custom library. For more information, see Work with the Materials interface

X-Rite Material Properties

NoteEditing the material properties should only be done when the measured material is a starting point for a more artistic interpretation. All of these values will be automatically defined by the spectrophotometer readings of the actual material when the plug-in is enabled.

Apply measurement (requires plug-in): Once a connection to the X-Rite MA98 has been established, and a measurement taken with the device, press this button to transfer the data from the scanner to the material in Showcase.

NoteThis button should not be pressed if no X-Rite MA98 is connected to the computer, or is not powered on.
Reset device connection (requires plug-in): Use this button to re-establish a connection to the device if it has been lost or if an error occurred.

NoteThis button should not be pressed if no X-Rite MA98 is connected to the computer, or is not powered on.

Color properties

Ambient Shadow: Filters the color and brightness of any Ambient Shadows on the object that the material is applied to. (Black = default black ambient shading, White = no ambient shading visible, Color = colored ambient shadows on top of the current material) For details on how to create and control Ambient Shadows, see Add ambient shadows to surfaces
Diffuse color: Sets the base color for the materials. For details on how to use the Color controls, see Change colors.
Flake color: The Flake color is a differential color that represents the flake that is nearest to the surface of the material and is influenced by the light color. Small modifications of this color can produce very different results.
Flake 2 color: The Flake 2 color is a differential color that represents the flake that is deeper in the material, and is therefore predominantly influenced by the pigment or flake effect.

Advanced Measured Properties

Coarseness: Regulates the influence of the flake on the material. Realistic values for this parameter go from 0.3 to 0.8. Car paints without flake should not use this material type, as even a value of 0.0 will show a flake.
Specular Intensity: The Specular Intensity controls the absolute influence of the Flake Color on the material. This is an artistic parameter and is set to 2 by default.
Diffuse Intensity: The Diffuse Intensity controls the absolute influence of Flake 2 Color on the material. This is an artistic parameter and is set to 1 by default.

Advanced Display Properties

Flake size (requires plug-in): The Flake Size describes the apparent size of the flake relative to the material. This is in the same units as the material since the specification of the flake is done in object space (as opposed to texture space.) Decreasing this parameter results in smoother surface coloration but will potentially decrease the performance of the shader. Setting this parameter to the correct size is important particularly when rendering close-ups of the material.
Flake factor (requires plug-in): The Flake Factor describes the density of the flakes in the material. Since it is very closely related to the Flake Size in terms of its effects, modifications to this parameter also can affect performance and the perception of flakes in close-ups of the material. In general, it is recommended to leave this parameter at its default value of 4.
Max # flakes (requires plug-in): The Maximum Number of Flakes is a performance parameter designed to limit the flake sub-sampling that is performed. The effect of this is squared so a setting 7 requires roughly 5 times more computations than a setting of 3. The particular setting will depend on the number of triangles using this material, the number of triangles in the scene, and the capabilities of the particular video card that is being used
Contribution factor: The Contribution Factor roughly corresponds to the flake orientation distribution. Artistically, it modifies the spread of the flake highlight around specular.

Considerations and limitations

Paints: X-Rite materials and measurements are only appropriate for metallic flake paints, rather than flat paints or other types of paints.
Scene lights: The X-Rite measured material does not show lighting or shading from scene Lights. The only illumination it receives is from the environment IBL.
Anti-aliasing: The X-Rite measured material has the best visual appearance when anti-aliasing is enabled (from Performance and Quality in the Options menu). For performance reasons, it's recommended that this be enabled on idle processing instead of forcing a minimum setting. Ray tracing at higher samples per pixel creates its own anti-aliasing.
Anti-aliasing: At this time, it is required that the MA98 measuring device be "tethered" to your computer. Removing the USB cord will not automatically disconnect the device, but you may be required to choose Reset device connection again when reconnecting the device. Once a connection is reestablished, a measurement can then be taken.
Illuminant/ Observer: Currently, the Illuminant/Observer pair is fixed at D65, 10 degree