Advanced Usage

Tiled Decals

How to set up tiled decals with rows and columns:

• Set the number of rows and columns (e.g., 4x2 grid)
• Use frame selection to choose specific tiles from the grid
• Adjust spacing to control tile density along the spline

Grid Setup

• Rows: Define how many rows are in the tile pattern (e.g., 4 rows)
• Columns: Define how many columns are in the tile pattern (e.g., 2 columns)
• Total Frames: Creates a grid of available frames (e.g., 4x2 = 8 total frames)

Frame Selection

• Frame Picker: Use the frame selection tool to choose which specific tile from the grid to use
• Grid Navigation: Navigate through the available frames in the grid pattern
• Visual Preview: See which frame is currently selected for placement

Practical Examples

• 4x2 Grid: 8 frames total, useful for directional arrows or varied surface textures
• 2x3 Grid: 6 frames, good for alternating patterns or surface variations
• 3x3 Grid: 9 frames, ideal for complex repeating patterns or multiple variations

Integration with Spacing

• Frame selection works together with the spacing slider to control how frequently the selected tile appears
• Lower spacing values place tiles closer together, higher values spread them further apart
• The selected frame will repeat along the spline according to the spacing settings

Decal Distribution

The tool offers three distribution methods for placing decals along the spline:

Single Distribution

When only one decal component is enabled, there is only one distribution possible - the same decal is placed at every mesh placement position along the spline.

Round Robin Distribution

Cycles through available decal frames in sequence, ensuring even distribution. This creates repeating patterns such as:

• Frame 1, Frame 2, Frame 1, Frame 2 for alternating decal variations
• Arrow left, arrow right, arrow left, arrow right for directional patterns

The pattern repeats consistently from start to end of the spline.

Random Distribution

Uses weight sliders and a random seed for probabilistic placement:

• Weight Normalization: The weights of each decal component’s weight slider are normalized to determine the probability of appearing
• Probability Calculation: Each decal component gets a chance to appear based on its normalized weight
• Random Seed: The random seed ensures reproducible patterns - the same seed will always generate the same distribution
• Sequential Population: Decals are populated along the spline from start to end using the calculated probabilities

Example: With 3 decal components and weights of 0.8, 0.4, and 0.1:

• Decal Component A (weight 0.8): ~62% chance, appears most frequently
• Decal Component B (weight 0.4): ~31% chance, appears moderately
• Decal Component C (weight 0.1): ~7% chance, appears rarely

In a spline with 100 mesh placement positions, you might see approximately 62 instances of Decal Component A, 31 instances of Decal Component B, and 7 instances of Decal Component C, creating natural variation while maintaining the desired proportions.

This method is ideal for creating natural, varied decal arrangements while maintaining artistic control through weights and ensuring consistency through the random seed.

Jitter Controls

The Decal Spline Tool includes a single jitter slider for adding natural Z-axis rotation variation to decal placement:

Jitter Workflow Approaches

Approach 1: Set Jitter Amplitude First

• Set Jitter Amplitude: Adjust the jitter slider to set the overall amplitude of Z-axis rotation variation
• Fine-tune with Random Seed: Use the random seed slider to cycle through different variations without changing the amplitude
• Iterative Refinement: This approach allows the user to establish the “character” of the variation with the jitter slider, then find the perfect variation using the random seed

Approach 2: Fix Random Seed First

• Set Random Seed: Choose a specific random seed value to lock in a particular variation pattern
• Adjust Jitter Amount: Fine-tune the jitter slider to achieve the desired effect
• Precise Control: Useful when the user wants to maintain a specific variation pattern while adjusting the rotation amount

Jitter Applications

• Small Values: Subtle natural rotation for realistic decal placement
• Large Values: Dramatic rotation variation for artistic or stylized effects