Modifying Materials and Applied Materials with Textures

You can edit the material texture parameters.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: You cannot apply materials with a texture size greater than 16384x16384 pixels (OpenGL limitation).

Modify Material with Textures

You can edit the texture parameters of materials.

  1. To access the Appearance Domain dialog box and edit the material appearance, do one of the following:
    • In the tree, expand the Materials node, and then double-click the material appearance .
    • In the tree, right-click and then select xxx object > Definition....
    • From the top bar, enter your search criteria for the material in the Search box, and then click . In the Material Browser, click next to the material to display the context menu, and then click Appearance.
    • From the Tools section of the action bar, click Material Browser .

    Any changes you make in this dialog box impacts the material appearance but also the visual aspect of all the applied materials referring to this material appearance.

    The dialog box contains different areas that you can expand and collapse.

    Area Description
    Preview Displays a preview of the material using a predefined shape, a default UV mapping, and a default black ambience.

    You can perform some viewing operations (pan, rotate, or zoom) and detach or attach the preview from the main dialog box. To do so, click:

    • to detach the preview from the Appearance Domain. You can move, resize, or dock the window to one of the four docking areas like any immersive panel.

      If you resize the window, the new dimensions are stored in the local preferences and applied next time you detach the window.

    • to attach the preview to the Appearance Domain dialog box.
    Appearance Parameters Contains a series of tabs that group parameters in a logical way.
    Tip: Double-click a tab to keep its parameters visible in the area. This lets you display the contents of several tabs at the same time.
    Substance Parameters Dedicated to material with Adobe substances.
    Reference Mapping Parameters Contains the mapping parameters for the material reference (that is, the material appearance). This mapping impacts all the material applications.
    Material application mapping Contains the mapping parameters for the applied material. This mapping is a local modification of the material appearance.

  2. Optional: To apply a single texture, or to use the Texture Chooser, click next to the appropriate parameter.

    The Texture Chooser lets you add multiple textures, modify textures, or delete them.

    Note: The following steps apply to all materials, except the basic ones. For the Basic Material type, click and then use the Content Chooser to select or search for a texture. Then, right-click the material in the 3D area, and select Edit Material Appearance to make your changes in the Texture area.

  3. Depending on whether a texture has been connected or not to the parameter, proceed as follows:
    • If a texture has already been connected to the parameter through the Texture Chooser , the Connect Parameter dialog box opens to let you choose a shader.
      Important: When textures are connected to parameters, the real-time preview does not show them. Only the ray traced preview can do so.
    • If no texture has been connected to the parameter, click next to the Texture box. Then, use the Content Chooser to select or search for a texture.
  4. To modify multipliers and tone mapping parameters, click the texture thumbnail.

    For more information, see Managing Multipliers and Tone Mapping.

  5. To disconnect a shader connection, click .
  6. To override mapping parameters, click Mapping override.

    Warning: This capability is available only for newly created materials.

    The Mapping override box lets you apply different texture transformations for each material appearance channel (diffuse, specular, normal, transparency, and so on). These parameters are relevant for material appearances only, not for applied materials. The Material application mapping area is available instead to let you modify some parameters.

    For more information about these parameters, see About Material Textures.

  7. Modify the offset, scale, angle, repeat, and flip parameters as required.

    Important: These parameters can be modified either:
    • At the appearance level through the Reference mapping parameters area. This impacts all the applied materials having the same type.

      These parameters are part of the material, which means that there are taken into account when you duplicate the material, or when you copy it to another material.

    • At each texture level through Mapping override. This impacts all the applied materials having the same type.

      These parameters are part of the material, which means that there are taken into account when you duplicate the material, or when you copy it to another material.

    • At the material level through the Material application mapping area. This impacts only the material that is being edited. Changing or removing a texture does not impact the material values.

      To reset the material to its default values, click Reset to appearance reference .

      Parameter Default Value
      Offset U, V 0
      Scale 1.0
      Angle 0
      Repeat U, V No default value.

      If reset, the current values of the reference (defined in the Reference mapping parameters) are used.
      Flip U, V Off

  8. Repeat these steps as many times as required to override other channels.

Modify Applied Materials with Textures

You can edit the mapping type and the scale value of applied materials without impacting the reference materials.

  1. Right-click the material in the 3D area, and then select Edit Material Appearance.
  2. In the Material Appearance Editor dialog box, edit the parameters according to your needs in the Material application mapping area.

    For more information about the parameters available, see About Material Textures.

    Note: The Mapping override box and the Mapping area are grayed out because these parameters are relevant for materials only, not for applied materials. The Material application mapping area is available instead to let you modify some parameters.

  3. Optional: Click Reset to appearance reference to reset the material to its default values.
  4. For basic materials, you can make changes in the Texture area.

    For more information, see Texture Area.

The applied material is modified.