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MSFS20 SDK materials - possible to bend the texture?
- Thread starter Nordscape
- Start date
A Google query yields some possible ways to do this; here is (2) candidates for tutorials: 
blog.sketchup.com
https://blog.sketchup.com/article/bend-it-fullmer-all-about-shape-bender
https://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=Curviloft
https://sketchucation.com/plugin/1175-curviloft
GaryGB
Shape Bender - Ruby Scripts - SketchUp 7
Shape Bender is the newest SketchUp 7 plugin that allows you to change the ruby scripts of any object and make it your own. Read more about it here.
https://blog.sketchup.com/article/bend-it-fullmer-all-about-shape-bender
https://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=Curviloft
https://sketchucation.com/plugin/1175-curviloft
GaryGB
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Ah, I should have been more precise. Sorry. I was aware of that approach, but I am thinking about the MSFS SDK materials, if it is possible to bend the materials selected for a polygon, for example.A Google query yields some possible ways to do this; here is (2) candidates for tutorials:
Shape Bender - Ruby Scripts - SketchUp 7
Shape Bender is the newest SketchUp 7 plugin that allows you to change the ruby scripts of any object and make it your own. Read more about it here.
https://blog.sketchup.com/article/bend-it-fullmer-all-about-shape-bender
GaryGB
So, you are not able to map the cited MSFS SDK Materials onto Face(s) in a Sketchup 3D model imported to MCX ? 
MCX can convert / export MSFS default Materials as generic PNG textures for use in Sketchup on 3D models.
A procedure described by Dick uses 32-bit (24-bit RGB color + an 8-bit 256 grayscale Alpha channel) PNGs converted by MCX from MSFS DDS default textures.
The MCX Material Editor "Material Template" feature can save the Material 'attributes' from a MSFS default / other 3D model.
The Material Template can be 'applied' to a 3rd party texture mapped onto Faces(s) in a Sketchup 3D model imported to MCX.
GaryGB
MCX can convert / export MSFS default Materials as generic PNG textures for use in Sketchup on 3D models.
A procedure described by Dick uses 32-bit (24-bit RGB color + an 8-bit 256 grayscale Alpha channel) PNGs converted by MCX from MSFS DDS default textures.
The MCX Material Editor "Material Template" feature can save the Material 'attributes' from a MSFS default / other 3D model.
The Material Template can be 'applied' to a 3rd party texture mapped onto Faces(s) in a Sketchup 3D model imported to MCX.
GaryGB
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I want to exclude Sketchup with this approach, so that I do not have to "model" the road, but instead can use the apron-placement tool within the SDK. I can only find rotation of the whole material and moving it along the axis.So, you are not able to map the cited MSFS SDK Materials onto Face(s) in a Sketchup 3D model imported to MCX ?
MCX can convert / export MSFS default Materials as generic PNG textures for use in Sketchup on 3D models.
The MCX Material Editor "Material Template" feature can save the Material 'attributes' from a MSFS default / other 3D model.
The Material Template can be 'applied' to a 3rd party texture mapped onto Faces(s) in a Sketchup 3D model imported to MCX.
GaryGB
Google AI has this to say regarding use of default Material for Aprons:
https://www.google.com/search?q=MSFS Docs Apron versus road texture&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1-m
Of particular note is the latter section that addresses rain effects:
"Projection Issues: Projected meshes (which can be used for roads) need to be "covered" by a default detail texture (like asphalt or concrete) to receive rain and snow effects. However, this can result in blurriness of the underlying texture."
Potentially related info on use of MSFS default textures via 3D modeling applications (including Sketchup ?) to make detail textures that may become projected textures merged with terrain Polygon textures:
https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/re-using-msfs-textures.456467/
https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/comparing-the-3-ways-to-texture-the-ground.451660/
https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/custom-markings-using-projected-mesh.454932/
https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/projected-mesh-short-explanation.452324/
Note that the MSFS Projected Mesh function Dick alludes to is equivalent to a "drape" of a mapped texture image Material from a Face in Sketchup onto another (sur-)Face when performed on / within the same base 3D layer 0 (zero) and not between different Groups or Components.
This is also referred to in Sketchup as "Projected" Material mapping onto a nearby 3D object or adjacent Face.
So, AFAIK, one can use CurviLoft to configure the desired texture image Material into the required size and shape for the area shown in your OP above, then "Project" that 3D object onto the terrain surface below.
The Material should cover up the default aerial imagery, merge with the ground layers, and by default, it will be covered by the MSFS default or custom "detail" texture top layer ...which enables environmental display of rain effects etc.
GaryGB
https://www.google.com/search?q=MSFS Docs Apron versus road texture&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1-m
Of particular note is the latter section that addresses rain effects:
"Projection Issues: Projected meshes (which can be used for roads) need to be "covered" by a default detail texture (like asphalt or concrete) to receive rain and snow effects. However, this can result in blurriness of the underlying texture."
Potentially related info on use of MSFS default textures via 3D modeling applications (including Sketchup ?) to make detail textures that may become projected textures merged with terrain Polygon textures:
https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/re-using-msfs-textures.456467/
https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/comparing-the-3-ways-to-texture-the-ground.451660/
https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/custom-markings-using-projected-mesh.454932/
https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/projected-mesh-short-explanation.452324/
Note that the MSFS Projected Mesh function Dick alludes to is equivalent to a "drape" of a mapped texture image Material from a Face in Sketchup onto another (sur-)Face when performed on / within the same base 3D layer 0 (zero) and not between different Groups or Components.
This is also referred to in Sketchup as "Projected" Material mapping onto a nearby 3D object or adjacent Face.
So, AFAIK, one can use CurviLoft to configure the desired texture image Material into the required size and shape for the area shown in your OP above, then "Project" that 3D object onto the terrain surface below.
The Material should cover up the default aerial imagery, merge with the ground layers, and by default, it will be covered by the MSFS default or custom "detail" texture top layer ...which enables environmental display of rain effects etc.
GaryGB
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