CompuServe Messages

>>what happened… Hi Ralph! I did see the message. When I tried this the materials do morph properly (gradually) as you'd expect. However, as the gradient appears, it stretches _with_ the object as it scales. The effect needed for this type of animated graph is considerably different – you want the gradient to remain stationary and have the object reveal more of the gradient as it rises. For example, if the gradient had 10 colors, the object at 50% height should have just the bottom 5 colors – at 70% the lower 7 colors would be shown. The gradient itself needs to be fixed in the 3D coordinate space and can't move even a little or the effect is destroyed. Also, the gradient color needs to be identical for all elements or points at the same height within the plot. This is a common type of 3D plot based on a color contour map. I think what is needed is either morphable mapping coordinates or a gradient SXP based on the world coordinate space instead of the object coordinate space. I've heard some people report a problem with SXPs not being "anchored" to objects created at render time with AXPs – where the SXP in effect "moved" thru the object. If this is indeed the case, an animated plot may be able to take advantage of the "feature"! JKJ PS: Hey, I just tried it and it works like a charm! I lofted an object, AXP SKINned it, and applied a gradient SXP. When KeyFramed, the object scaled beautifully through the gradient space while the gradient acted as if it was locked to the world coordinate system. The only problem is the gradient SXP I used is part of a set of beta IPAS routines that I don't remember ever being released. Ack! Is there a gradient SXP for sale out there?