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Visualization > Materials
Materials
You use materials to define objects' color, shininess, glow, and transparency.
A material can contain a texture, such as a scanned image or artwork.
You can add materials to objects or add them to the World, and then link them to objects later on. When you modify a linked material, all the objects that use it are updated.
To add a material to objects or groups:
- Select the object or group.
- Choose Visualization > Add Material.
- Select a color, then click OK. See Changing material color .
- In the Parameter Editor, click Material, then adjust its Shininess, Glow, and Transparency. See Material parameters .
To add a material to the World:
- Make sure nothing is selected. (Choose Edit > Unselect All, or hold S and click an empty part of the World.)
- Choose Visualization > Add Material.
- Select a color, then click OK.
The material appears in the World Explorer under Resources / Materials.
To link a material to objects:
- In the World Explorer, Ctrl-select the objects and the material.
- Choose Visualization > Link Material or press Ctrl+L.
In the viewports, the objects are updated. In the World Explorer, the material appears under the object. When you select a linked material in the World Explorer, every instance of the material is highlighted. When you edit the material, all the objects that use it are updated.
To remove a material from an object and the World:
In the World Explorer, select the material and press Delete.
Objects linked to that material revert to the default material.
To remove a material from an object but keep it in the World:
Ctrl-select the object and the material, then choose Visualization > Unlink Material or
press Ctrl+U.The object reverts to the default material.
Note: If you want to change the color of an object that uses a linked material without changing all the other instances of the material, unlink the material then change its color. To unlink a material, multi-select the object and the material, and choose Visualization > Unlink Material or press Ctrl+U.
To rename a material:
- In the World Explorer, expand Resources / Materials, or expand the object to which the material is applied.
- Select the material, click it again or press F2, and then enter a new name.
To select a material
- Select an object that uses it, then click Material in the Parameter Editor.
- In the World Explorer, expand Resources / Materials and select the material.
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