Ambient Color Mapping

Material Editor > Standard material > Maps rollout > Ambient button

Mapping the ambient color

You can select a bitmap file or procedural map to map an image to the material's ambient color. The image is painted on the shaded parts of the object.

By default, diffuse mapping maps the ambient component as well, so you seldom need to use a different map for diffuse and ambient components. If you do want to apply a separate ambient map, first click to turn off the lock button to the right of the long Map buttons in the Maps rollout. This unlocks ambient and diffuse mapping. The Map button for ambient color becomes available. You can then click the ambient button to select a map.

Note: Ambient color mapping is not visible in viewports or renderings unless the level of ambient light is greater than default value of black. Choose Rendering > Environment, then adjust the level of ambient light using the Environment dialog.

Procedure

To map the ambient color:

Make sure the ambient and diffuse components have their maps unlocked. Click to turn off the lock button. The Map button for ambient color becomes available.
Click the Map button for Ambient color.

The Material/Map Browser is displayed.
Choose from the list of map types, and then click OK.

The Material Editor is now at the map level, and displays controls for the map parameters.
Use the map controls to set up the map.