So…. uh… which version is it that you need? It takes work for Ratmann to help you out and it makes a difference which operating system you're on. Are you on Windows x64?
Despite it's name, the expected scenario is that one is using Alpha to represent the Transparency and not the Matte Transparency.
If you want to use your Alpha attribute to represent the alpha channel of your object, and not just transparency you'll need to remap some stuff in the shaders, yes so that the alpha is going into the alpha of the shader, and not the opacity. You would then likely want to remove it's connection so that it does not multiply against the diffuse color.
Sorry, I'm still learning so maybe I'm missing something here, but is it necessary to install a library (the wx folder for example) into $HH/scripts/python/ every time you install a new build of Houdini?
Seems like it would make things a lot easier if extra libraries could be installed to $HOME/scripts/python/ instead… or as well. That way once it's there, it's there, and you don't need to worry about copying stuff over every time there's a new build.
Maybe you can do that already and I'm just not aware?
for future reference, there's a “exchange” section on the website where you may offer up assets like this. Things like this can easily get lost/forgotten on the forum.
you have to combine the vops together at the vop level unfortunately. Check out the glass material for an example… it combined the old glass and decal materials.