Issue with flipping normals for duplicate instance

Sensual Art

I have created a duplicate instance of an object but while selecting the surface and flipping its normals using geometry editor causes the normals for the same surface in both instances to flip. However, the material settings are working independently as expected.

I have even tried renaming the duplicate instance and even reinstantiating the object by dragging it from the palette instead of duplicating nodes. But still can't get the surfaces of two instances of the same item to have their normals in opposite alignment.

Is it because I am using the option {context_menu} > Geometry Selection > Select By > Surfaces > {surface name} ? I find that the most intuitive way to select the entire surface, but in both instances, the surface name is exactly the same. Is that creating the issue?

Any suggestions?

mjc1016

mrinal said:

I have created a duplicate instance of an object but while selecting the surface and flipping its normals using geometry editor causes the normals for the same surface in both instances to flip. However, the material settings are working independently as expected.

I have even tried renaming the duplicate instance and even reinstantiating the object by dragging it from the palette instead of duplicating nodes. But still can't get the surfaces of two instances of the same item to have their normals in opposite alignment.

Is it because I am using the option {context_menu} > Geometry Selection > Select By > Surfaces > {surface name} ? I find that the most intuitive way to select the entire surface, but in both instances, the surface name is exactly the same. Is that creating the issue?

Any suggestions?

I haven't experimented with trying that, but I'd say it's a possiblity.

Sensual Art

Or, flipping normal is a geometry change that effects the item permanently (even if the scene is not saved) causing the changes to reflect immediately across all instances across all scenes? Unlike other changes, undo/redo actions cannot be applied for these geometry changes.

If that's the case, then the item has to be duplicated in the file system and has to be loaded with a different identity. I can sense a potential issue with texture compatibility going that way. How do you normally deal with geometry level changes when the same item is being used as multiple instances in the same scene or across various scenes? How would such file level manipulations be possible through connect where the duf file is encrypted?

 

mjc1016

If the item is an instance then flipping normals on the 'original' will flip them on all the instances.  If the item is the same item, but loaded more than once from the library/imported/created primitive, each is unique and will not affect the others,

Sensual Art

My bad, if I made it sound confusing. I tried both approaches:

1) Duplicating the item by using the duplicate node (hierarchy) menu option

2) Adding the item second time by dragging the item from the content library pane.

I am not using any 'instances' plugin/addon that would automatically duplicate the item. Primitives, as I understand, are different as they get instantiated on demand and their scope is only the scene where they are created. But I am having this issue with library items which are loaded more than once in my scene. This is happenning with any item I load from the library not just with a single item. Can you try flipping the normals with any arbitary item from your content library and then adding the item once again from the library? I just want to rule out any issues with the installation of my copy of Daz studio.

Havos

mrinal said:

My bad, if I made it sound confusing. I tried both approaches:

1) Duplicating the item by using the duplicate node (hierarchy) menu option

2) Adding the item second time by dragging the item from the content library pane.

I am not using any 'instances' plugin/addon that would automatically duplicate the item. Primitives, as I understand, are different as they get instantiated on demand and their scope is only the scene where they are created. But I am having this issue with library items which are loaded more than once in my scene. This is happenning with any item I load from the library not just with a single item. Can you try flipping the normals with any arbitary item from your content library and then adding the item once again from the library? I just want to rule out any issues with the installation of my copy of Daz studio.

If the item is a prop, you could save it as a prop asset, then reload that and flip the normals on that copy. Given the reloaded one would be using a different spec of the mesh, it should not effect the original (I should say I have not actually tried this).

Sensual Art

Thanks a ton @Havos. Your suggested approach worked !!! And thanks @mjc1016 for taking the time out to help.

Here's a spot render to celebrate success. Still working on my lights. So be gentle on the rookie :)