Groups and Layers

[bwinter]

I haven't been able to get this to work, so I don't think it works this way--but just wanted to confirm in case I'm missing something.

I have a Group (Trees) comprised of many trees (Tree 1, Tree 3, Tree 4, etc.).  Is it possible to apply "layer 1" to the Group, and have "layer 2" be each separate tree?

For a simple example, I have a ON=BLUE effect for the entire Group.  However, I only want the BLUE unmasked when an effect is ON for each individual tree.  It seems that this only works if I create a separate (BLUE) layer for each individual tree.

Is this accurate, or am I missing something? 

[jnealand]

Render order for elements, as I understand it, is top to bottom so if you have your group near the top of the list of elements and your individual trees listed as separate models at the bottom of the list anything you put on individual trees at the bottom would override whatever is in the group.  Hope that makes sense.

[bwinter]

I think what I'm getting at is an example below. All my individual Trees (1-8) are in a Group (Large Tree).  I want to apply a single effect to the group (in this simplified example, the effect is RED-ON).  However, I would like for this effect (RED) only to display when there is an "unmask" effect on each individual tree (where the current BLUE FADE is).

Ideally, I would like the ability to change/adjust the RED effect, and have this effect applied to all the individual trees during the "unmask".  Either this isn't possible (Layer 1 can't be the Group), or I'm simply doing it wrong.

[arw01]

expand down to the node level of the little trees and watch it as you play with blending and layer order.

I found one with text that does not work right, could be some others that ignore the general rule.

[jnealand]

You missed what I said.  Add the individual models to your display elements at the bottom of your display elements.  You are trying to do it via models expanded in the group.

[Gilrock]

Jim if you put an effect on a model expanded in a group its the same as putting it on the model itself.  In fact you will see it show up twice on the grid if you can see both places.  When you add an item to a group that is part of the sequence it is automatically added to the display element list.  So then it's just a matter of the display element order like you originally stated.

[markrvp]

The short answer is no.  Any effect you apply to an individual tree will overwrite the effect on the group.

[Gilrock]

The short answer is no.  Any effect you apply to an individual tree will overwrite the effect on the group.

Technically that is only if the group is rendered first.  You could expand a group and drop an effect and still have the group overwrite that effect if the group is later in the render order.

The point I'm trying to get across is don't think that models shown in an expanded group have anything to do with rendering order.  The ability to expand the group is for convenience and the expanded group model order does not affect rendering.