Extensions:2.6/Py/Scripts/Material/Online Material Library

Online Material Library
Browse and download materials from an online library.

UI location	Properties → Material → Online Material Library
Usage	Browse through the categories and download Creative Commons Zero materials from online libraries.
Version	0.6	Author(s)	Peter Cassetta
Blender	2.64 - 2.66	License	GNU GPL 3.0
Category	Material	Distribution	Contrib

Executable information

File name	online_mat_lib.zip
Current version download	http://peter.cassetta.info/material-library/online_mat_lib.zip
Python modules	http.client, os, xml.dom.minidom

Warning	Beta version
Links	http://peter.cassetta.info/material-library/

Installation

1. User Preferences → Addons → Install Addon... ("Install From File" in 2.65...)
2. Use the File Browser to find online_mat_lib.zip on your hard drive
3. Select the file and click "Install Addon..."
4. Use the Addon browser to find and enable Online Material Library (it's in the Material category)

Getting Materials

Switch to Cycles. In the Material Properties, you will see the Online Material Library panel.

There are currently three libraries accessible from within the addon:

• Peter's Library - Release
  • Contains well-tested materials; not changed more often than once a month
  • Online or offline
• Peter's Library - Testing
  • Contains new materials which have not yet been accepted to the Release library
  • Online only
• Bundled Library
  • Contains a set of materials bundled with the addon
  • Offline only

Select one, then connect to it or work offline.

• Working offline (for all libraries except the bundled one) simply uses cached data. You cannot download new materials or material previews in offline mode.
• Working online (by clicking the "Connect" button) downloads any needed library data. Material previews, downloaded materials, textures, and OSL scripts are all cached automatically when downloaded.

Now you will be able to select the category of your choice with the new dropdown that appears.

When you open a category, you will see a list of materials and their ratings.

Click a material to see its details and a preview.

You can overwrite the current material with it (Apply), add it to the list of materials (Add), or save it to your hard drive (Save).

Different Types of Libraries

The addon currently supports four different types of material libraries.

• Bundled
• Testing
• Release
• Composite

Bundled

The Bundled Library is different from the other library types because it has no online mode. It is located in the folder "/online_mat_lib/material-library/bundled/"

Testing

Testing libraries are meant to hold new materials which have not yet been tested enough to make it into a Release library. They should generally have a corresponding Release library.

When hosted on a website, the directory structure should look something like this: example.com/matlib/testing/

Note that here, and elsewhere, the name of the directory which holds the "/testing/" folder can be anything the library owner wants, but the folder "/testing/" should never be named anything else.

Release

Release libraries are meant to hold well-tested materials which were placed in a Testing library and later accepted. They should generally have a corresponding Testing library.

When hosted on a website, the directory structure should look something like this: example.com/matlib/release/

Note that here, and elsewhere, the name of the directory which holds the "/release/" folder can be anything the library owner wants, but the folder "/release/" should never be named anything else.

Composite

Composite libraries are for those who wish to host an online library but do not care to use the testing-release system.

When hosted on a website, the directory structure can be arranged however the owner wants wishes, but here is an example of what it could look like: example.com/matlib/

Cached Data

Cached data is stored in the folder "/online_mat_lib/material-library/[library_host]/[library_type]/" or in the folder "/online_mat_lib/material-library/[library_host]/" for composite libraries.

Deleting Cached Data

To remove all cached previews, materials, textures, and OSL scripts for a library, connect to it, then, in the "Settings" tab, click "Clear Cache".

Note that this cannot be undone.

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