Alias, in its basic mode, creates an additional name for a material.
I often use materials descriptions written in French. Without changing
the original file ids, I simply add a line:
!xform French_mat_file.rad
void alias red rouge
# modifier alias additional_id original_id
The function has additional benefits. If the alias command is modified,
only the new identifier acquires these modifier properties. I use this
method as a convenient way to combine picture data from a colorpict
description with a predefined material.
!xform picture_descriptions.rad
!xform paint_surfaces.rad
picturedata alias painting canvas
Of course there are other ways to achieve the same end, but when working
with several large material description libraries, I find that alias
provides the most convenient method.
-Rob Shakespeare
Indiana University
路路路
-----Original Message-----
From: radiance-general-admin@radiance-online.org
[mailto:radiance-general-admin@radiance-online.org] On Behalf Of Jeffrey
McGrew
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 12:37 PM
To: radiance-general@radiance-online.org
Subject: [Radiance-general] 'Alias' material modifier questions...
Hello all,
So I hate to ask a stupid, basic question (yet again 
however I've read all I can, and not being able to find
a copy of the 'Rendering with Radiance' book anywhere,
this is the only place I can turn to.
I can't figure out what application the 'alias'
material modifier is for. I understand how to
apply modifiers, and patterns, and I've read the old
tutorial, the new tutorial, the help files,
and the man pages, and still can't get my head
around what this is for or where you would apply
it.
If anyone could point me to a help file,
or just give a few quick examples of what the
alias modifier would be used for in application,
I would be incredibly grateful.
Thanks a ton,
Jeffrey
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