Simple parquetry tiling

Question

Is it possible to create this parquetry pattern by modelling only a single tile and using some system of array modifiers, and then applying a single material, that gives each tile a similar, but individual, pattern? And for clarity: each rectangle is one tile, and each square is made of four tiles. I've intentionally exaggerated the edges of the tiles, for visibility.

This is the setup I have at the moment.

I'm quite happy with the overall looks of it, but it gives a seamless pattern over the entire floor, and I want each tile to have an individual variation, like this.

Answer 1

With one material shared between all the rectangles, you can add randomized attributes, as long as each rectangle is a separate mesh object.

The trick is using the Object Info Node with the Random output as a factor in texture position as well as in a colour overlay.

Here's the modified Material node tree. All collapsed nodes are unchanged from the original material from the original question.

Here's a sample screenshot of the single material across the 48 rectangular meshes (16 groups of 3). It demonstrates the randomization of the colour overlay as well as the shift in Texture coordinates.

Randomizing Colour

The colour overlay is easier to explain. You take the Random value into the Factor of a Colour Ramp and then mix that over top of your base colour. The Random value will apply a different position value from the colour ramp to each of the mesh objects, giving you the colour variation you need. Adjust the colour ramp to make it as subtle as you want.

Randomizing Texture Position

This part is a little trickier. Essentially we want to modify the X and Y values of the Texture Coordinate. It's important to know that Adding to these values moves the textures, and Multiplying a number by these values Scales the Texture Coordinates. We don't want to scale here, we just want to randomly change the X and Y values of the coordinates.

The problem is that we can't do this with the Mapping node, so we need some math nodes.

1. First we take the output of the Mapping Node and split the XYZ values with a Separate XYZ node.
2. Then we add the Random value to the X and the Y values
3. Then we use the Combine XYZ node to combine the altered XY values with the unchanged Z value.
4. At this point we pipe the vector output into the rest of the node tree as was originally set up.

This way we are adding a random integer to the X and Y value and shifting the texture coordinates for each mesh that uses our single material.

Note: In this example I did not randomize the Glossy material, although you could certainly do that as well.

Tip: If you want to learn more about modifying texture coordinates, I would highly recommend Bartek Skorupa's video: "Manipulating Texture Coordinates Like A Boss"

Answer 2

Using OSL you can do this with one script node, this script was originally a renderman shader. The drawback with OSL is no GPU support.

Script can be downloaded here.

And the settings used in the sample -

Answer 3

Particle System Particle Info Node

Provides [Index] value for your Convenience and Creativity

• Particles. Particle System. Particle Info. Since the particle info node will give you [index], you can base texture coordinates parameterized/uniquely to the tile. This includes 90 degree rotation. Particle System Settings depicted below. The [index] can be used with math nodes including random numbers. Gain and Bias.

• With a Particle System you need only two planes. The Particle System itself and The repeated object particle.

• Particle system result with two textures, selective rotation, color progression, texture repeat.

Animation Ready

Progressive Rotation via [Index]

90 Degree Rotation along Green to Blue Diagonal

Particle Info Node Close Up

Particle system result

• First Object Particle focus.

• Image Below.

Particle System Full View

• Illustrating Color Progression based on Particle Info Index. This correlates with the color ramp node depicted in due time.

• Image Below

Particle System Close Up

• Illustrating Alternating Texture XY Coordinates.

• Image Below

All the convenience of a Blender Particle System

• Emitting all particles at the start of scene with a long lifetime will give the static quality.

Condensed Noodle Soup

• Look No Groups

• What a Mess!

• Please never arrange your noodles like this

When you grow tired of that technical floor, Add 2 more math nodes and a new texture to get something like this.

This is easy because the particle system will produce a predictable value in the particle info index.

• Ordinary technique. You can introduce non continuity by taking 3 * 3 = 9 squares of the wood texture. 6 * 6 = 36. So some viewers might not notice the repeat. Level of Detail.