Apply shading to surfaces

How to create and assign shaders.

Assign or layer a shader

How to assign a shader and layer shaders to a surface.

To assign a shader to a surface

Pick the surface(s) in a modeling window.

Pick the shader in the Multi-lister.

See Assign Shader in Render > Multi-lister

Select Shading > Assign Shader in the Multi-lister.

To layer shaders onto a surface

Pick the surface(s) in the modeling window.

Pick the shader in the Multi-lister that you want to layer another shader on top of.

See Assign Shader in Render > Multi-lister

Select Shading > Assign Shader in the Multi-lister.

Pick the shader in the Multi-lister that you want to be layered on top of the first shader.

See Layer Shaders in Render > Multi-lister

Select Shading > Layer Shaders in the Multi-lister.

What is required for shaders to work

Shaders determine what surfaces look like (for example, color, reflectivity, roughness). Once you create a shader, you can assign it to one or more surfaces. You can also layer more than one shader onto a single surface.

In order for a surface to have the properties of a shader, you must assign the shader to the surface. You can assign a single shader to several different surfaces. You can also layer several shaders onto a single surface. By default, all surfaces have the DefaultShader assigned to them.

Apply reflection to a shader

How to map a texture directly to a BLINN or PHONG shader's Reflection parameter to simulate reflections during raycasting or raytracing.

To reflection map a shader

Normally the renderer only calculates reflections during raytracing. However, you can map a texture directly to a BLINN or PHONG shader's Reflection parameter to simulate reflections during raycasting or raytracing. For example, you can use an environment texture as a reflection map to simulate environmental reflections. Another use of reflection maps is to produce identical reflections on several surfaces. Although you can use any texture as a reflection map, environment textures give the best results.

By default, reflection mapping only works during raycasting. To use reflection maps during raytracing, you must set the shader's Use Refl. Map parameter ON (see Use Refl. Map in Render > Multi-lister ).

You can also simulate reflections on a LAMBERT shader by mapping an image file or texture to the shader's Color or Incandescence parameter.

Double-click the shader swatch in the Multi-lister to open the Control Window.

Click the Map button (to the right of the Reflection parameter) to open the Texture Procedures window.

In the Texture Procedures window, click the button of the texture you want to use.

The texture swatch appears in the Multi-lister, and the texture appears on the shader swatch.

If you want to use the reflection map during raytracing, set the shader's Use Refl. Map parameter ON (see Use Refl. Map in Render > Multi-lister

Move a shader from or to the shader library on the Visualization control panel

Drag the shader with the middle mouse button.

Assign a shader to a surface using the Visualization control panel

To assign a shader to a surface

Pick the object(s) in a modeling window.

Pick the shader in the Multi-lister, the SBD, or the Visualization control panel

Select the Assign Current Shader icon.

To change the assigned shader

Pick the shaded object.

Pick another shader.

Click the Assign Current Shader icon.

To display shaders on surfaces

Select the Toggle Shade icon, a tool located at the bottom of the Visualization panel. The scene is shaded.

Modify attributes of shaders

Watch the Modify a shader's color movie.

Modify a shader's color and intensity

Pick a surface on the shaded model to modify its color.

Push the bar under the Resident Shaders section in the Visualization control panel

up to reveal the full menu of shaders. The most commonly used shader parameters are shown in this section of the panel.

In the Shader Parameters options, click on the rectangular color swatch located under RGB Color and next to the color slider.

This opens the color palette where you can choose a different color for the shader.

Change the color by clicking on the color wheel. You can modify the color's intensity in the HSV triangle.

Close the window when you've got a new color selected.

Click the Assign Current Shader icon. The color updates on the picked surface.

Layer shaders onto a surface

To create a layered shader

Pick the objects in the modeling window.

Click the Create Layered Shader icon in the Visualization control panel

. A black shader highlighted in red appears in the Resident Shaders section.

Double-click the black shader highlighted in red. The Layered Shader window appears.

Select the shader in Resident Shaders you want to layer another shader on top of in Resident shaders. Click once to highlight the selected shader in red.

Click Add on the Layered Shader window. The Shader's name is listed in the window, and the black shader now displays your first shader choice.

Pick the shader in Resident Shaders that you want layered on top of the first shader. Click once to highlight the selected shader in red.

Click Add in the Layered Shader window. The Shader's name is listed in the window and the shader displays a preview of the layers you have chosen.

Click the Assign Current Shader icon to assign the layered shader to your picked object.

Click the Toggle Shade icon to shade the object.