Textures and Colors

Introduction

This tutorial is for a basic operation with textures. I have divided the whole texture tutorial in two: The basics of textures, and more advanced texture operations.

The Camera Tab

This tutorial requires a parameter file that you can download from here:ColorTutorial

1. Use the Load Parameter Button to load the provided parameter file (any fractal can work for this tutorial, but the results can vary).
2. Select the Camera Tab.

Changing the Light Direction

1. Move the mouse over the Light Direction control with the left mouse button pressed, so the little yellow sphere will look like the image.
2. Select the Render tab.

The Render Tab

1. Press the Ambient button so it will bring the Texture Panel.

The Texture Panel

Welcome to the Texture Panel. Lets see an overview of the controls:

1. The Material Selection arrows, for navigating on the material slots.
2. The Ambient and Diffuse texture button, for enabling the Texture Panel.
3. Texture Browser arrows, used for navigating over the texture library.
4. Texture control buttons, for changing colors, importing gradients and importing external textures, also for closing or accepting the desired changes.
5. The Ambient and Diffuse preview buttons. They show the active textures. The upper one show the active Ambient texture and the lower one shows the active Diffuse texture.
6. Material Parameter control. This control is for changing several parameters of the textures. This also include a Reset button for turning back the changes. This control is not covered on this tutorial.

Changing the Ambient Texture

1. Select the lower left (dark blue) texture from the Texture library.
2. Press the Ok button to use it.

Results

Once the texture is applied, you will see the following changes:

1. The Ambient texture preview will be updated by the selected texture.
2. In the Preview panel, you will see how the Ambient texture interacts with the actual Diffuse texture.

Changing the Diffuse Texture

1. Press the Diffuse texture button.
2. Use the texture library arrows to navigate on the library so until you find the beige colored texture that appears on the image.
3. Select the texture.
4. Press the Ok button.

Final Result

Once the texture is applied, you will see the following changes:

1. The Diffuse texture preview will be updated by the selected texture.
2. In the Preview panel, you will see how the Diffuse texture interacts with the actual Ambient texture.