Importing Images for Transparency Shaders

Transparency shaders can be created from images or image masks.

Image Transparency

The process of selecting an image transparency shader is illustrated by the following flow chart.

To import an image transparency shader:

1. Select and import the image as described in Selecting the Image for Import.

The Edit Image Transparency dialog box opens. Specify the image-based shader properties.

►    Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Image preview	Edits to the image are displayed in the image preview
Index of Refraction	As light moves through a medium, the index measures the change in the direction of the light’s rays. An index of 1.0 indicates none; a typical value for water and ice is 1.3, and for glass use 1.5–1.6.
Blurriness (%)	Sets image blurring when rendered in Final Quality Renderworks or Custom Renderworks (with Blurriness selected)
Absorption Color	Click the color box to select a color that the object may absorb differently, making it appear tinted by that color
Absorption Distance	Defines the distance rays of light have to travel before Absorption Color replaces the image color. The lower the value, the more intense the Absorption Color is.
Change Image	Selects a different image for import
Flip H/V	Flips the image horizontally or vertically
Rotate	Rotates the image 90° counter-clockwise
Invert	Produces a negative of the image

2. Click OK to import the image and preview the texture. See Transparency Shaders  for more details about transparency parameters.

Mask Transparency

The process of selecting a mask transparency shader is illustrated by the following flow chart.

To create a mask transparency image-based shader:

1. Select and import the image as described in Selecting the Image for Import.

2. The Edit Image Mask dialog box opens.

►    Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Horizontal/Vertical Repetitions	Specifies the number of repetitions of the mask shader in the horizontal and vertical direction
Single	The mask shader does not repeat; it is only shown once (this is the typical setting, especially for decals)
Infinite	The mask shader repeats infinitely in the horizontal and/or vertical direction
Custom	The mask shader repeats the specified number of times
Opacity (%)	Enter the opacity percentage; values less than 100 create a partially transparent mask
Anti-Aliased	Select to smooth the edges of the image mask
Change Image	Selects a different image for import
Transparent Color Mask	Edits the transparent color mask settings
Flip H/V	Flips the image horizontally or vertically
Rotate	Rotates the image 90° counter-clockwise
Invert	Produces a negative of the image; useful for swapping the opaque and transparent areas of a grayscale mask

3. To use the image as a mask, click Transparent Color Mask; the Create Transparent Color Mask dialog box opens. Select the mask properties.

The source image must be more than eight-bit color to create a transparent color mask. Images with a monochrome background are easiest to use when creating a mask transparency.

 

►    Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Source Image	Displays the imported image. Select the transparent color by clicking a color in the image; the resulting mask is displayed in the Transparent Color Mask preview. If necessary, use the mouse scroll wheel to zoom into and out of the image, or click and hold the mouse wheel button to pan.
Transparent Color	Displays the current transparent color. Either click the source image to designate the transparent color, or select the color by clicking the color box.
Transparent Color Mask	Displays a preview of the mask based on the current transparent color selection and settings
Color Matching Tolerance	Adjusts the transparency tolerance; drag the slider to the right to increase the tolerance level. This allows a wider range of pixels similar to the transparent color to be considered transparent.
Mask Contrast	Adjusts the mask edge contrast; increase the edge contrast sharpness by dragging the slider to the right. Soften the contrast by dragging the slider to the left.

4. Click OK. The mask is previewed in the Edit Image Mask dialog box.

5. Click OK. The imported mask transparency is previewed in the Edit Texture dialog box.

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Creating Image-based Shaders

Renderworks Shader Types

Editing Textures and Shaders

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