Using a corona light material as a self-illumination map for another material

[Cyresto]

Hey guys,
Sorry for the confusing title, i'll try explain my situation.
I'm playing around with some models from Warframe, working on learning how to rig and skin a bit better in Max. The models come with a bunch of textures, one of which is a map for small lights on the models.
So far, i've been working with these by creating a clone of the model, giving it a slight push modifier, and then applying a Coronalightmtl map to the pushed model, using the supplied map as the opacity;


What I want to know is if there is a way to get both these lights and the diffuse maps, normal maps, etc, on the same texture, so that only 1 model is needed. I've tried playing around with a Coronamix material to achieve this effect, but I don't really know what I'm doing with it.
Asking because when it comes to rigging a character, I'll need to have two characters rigged on the same skeleton using the system i'm using now, and that seems a little clunky.
Cheers!

[TomG]

My first thought would be to use one Corona Mtl, and use the Self Illumination channel in that. The lights here seem small and don't need to actually cast light into the scene (as far as I can tell), so this would be a good solution that keeps your life simpler. Paint bright bits in the Self Illumination map where there are dark bits in the diffuse map and presto!

[Cyresto]

Thanks for the fast response!
I've given that a go, creating a map for the self-illumination where the lights would logically be in the diffuse map, but when it's plugged in, it doesn't seem to do much? I've used a CoronaMix material to make the lights red, but they don't show up on the model.

[TomG]

Should work without having to mix materials. Be sure to raise the Self Illumination multiplier above 0. Here's an example - I inverted the map for the diffuse so that there's no diffuse where it glows, and tinted the white map red to give red lighting. In your case, you would be best with two different maps, one for the diffuse (with black where the lights will be), and one for the lights (black everywhere except the lights, then the color of light wherever there is a light, rather than tinting the whole thing as I did, that would let you mix green here, red there and so on), then crank up that multiplier!

[Cyresto]

Got it! Thanks for the example image, helped a bunch.
It's all working as it should now, on one map.
Cheers! :)

[TomG]

Most welcome! Now all that's left is for you to share the end result when done ;) Will be interesting to see Warframe characters (not including any Kubrows are you? :) )