When you load scene that references missing map files, you should get warnings like this in the Script Editor:
// Warning: Texture file C:/Users/ikolev/Documents/maya/projects/default//sourceimages/Checker256x256.png doesn't exist, node file1 //
and any operators should simply behave as if they are not assigned any maps.
I tried with a simple setup, a fur ball applied to a plane, and a .png set as Distribution Map for the GuidesFromMesh operator. When I opened the .ma scene after removing the map file (Checker256x256.png), I got the above messages and the guides covered the whole plane instead of the areas defined by the map.
If you get other error messages or other unexpected behavior, please provide an example scene (preverred format is zipped .ma).
Ivan Kolev (Software Developer, EPHERE Inc.)
E-mail: ivan.kolev at ephere dot com
Discord: ikolev
