# /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
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# ctrl.studio, June 18 2005
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# ctrl_multidisplace
# shader plugin for XSi, mentalray 3.3 and later.
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# /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
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# revisions::
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# (v0.9) beta release
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# ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


a shader pack to control multi displacements interactively from within XSi. 





.ctrl_multid_collect
-------------------
collect up to 8 displacement shaders


.ctrl_multid_single
-------------------
simple displacement shader


.ctrl_multid_geo
----------------
rearrange the displacement shader to allow mr to perform
a chained (multi) displacement




..install
---------
File->Add-on->plugin(spdl)
for all the three spdls.


..usage
--------
[0. set up your geometry with an approx node as for any other displacement]
1. apply a ctrl_multid_collect straight to the miDisplacement node.
2. for any branch you plan to attach to the collector node you have to use
at the end a multid_single displacement node and then plug it to the collect
node. one could use any custom displacement shader but is forced to use always
a multid_collect node as last shader to be connected to the mr displace slot.
(a displacement shader is not any scalar shader ... )
3. put a geometry shader primitive in the scene and load the ctrl_multid_geo
shader. select your objects. there you go.

.look at the simple scenes included to get an hint if in doubt.


..notes
-------
while you can attach multiple objects to the ctrl_multid_geo they are not
forced to have all the same material, they are just forced to have a setup
valid for multidisplacement. (generally the ctrl_multid_collect as first
node in the displace branch).

in debug mode you have also to set logmessage to verbose (not only progress) 
to see the preprocessing phase displayed on the script editor, while in debug
mode the shader will show the chaining process but will not perform 
displace to have faster feedbacks while resolving problems.

sometimes the geoshader is not regulary engaged by xsi when 'translating' 
the scene in batch mode, for this will be good to resort to mentalray 
standalone.