Applying textures to objects and faces using the Texture tool

Tool

Tool set

Texture

Basic

The Texture tool allows you to place a texture directly on an entire object or on specific faces of an object. The texture is applied with a single click on the highlighted object/face under the cursor, regardless of selection status. As textures are added or changed using the Texture tool, the changes display in the Render tab of the Object Info palette, where they can be managed; see Managing object textures from the Object Info palette.

You can also apply a texture from the Resource Manager. Select the object, and then right-click on the resource, and select Apply from the context menu or double-click the resource to activate it; the Texture tool is automatically activated.

Alternatively, drag the texture from the Resource Manager onto the object to apply it. To apply the texture only to a particular face, press the Ctrl key (Windows) or Cmd key (Mac) while dragging the texture to the face. To replace the matching texture on multiple faces, press the Ctrl+Shift keys (Windows) or Cmd+Shift keys (Mac) while dragging the texture to one of the faces with the texture to replace.

To manage textures applied to an object or to edit the mapping, use the Object Info palette's Render tab or the Attribute Mapping tool.

Mode

Description

Apply to Object

Applies the active texture to the clicked object

Apply to Face

Applies the active texture to the clicked face.

Apply to Face mode can be temporarily invoked by pressing the Ctrl key (Windows) or Cmd key (Mac) while using any of the other modes.

Replace Matching Texture

Applies the active texture to all faces of an object that have the same texture as the clicked face.

Replace Matching Texture mode can be temporarily invoked by pressing the Ctrl+Shift keys (Windows) or Cmd+Shift keys (Mac) while using any of the other modes.

Pick Up

Picks up the texture on an object or face that is clicked on. After the texture is picked up, the tool immediately changes to the previously used mode.

Pick Up mode can be temporarily invoked by pressing the Alt key (Windows) or Option key (Mac) while using any of the other modes.

Texture

Opens the Resource Selector to select a texture; double-click the resource to activate it

Supported objects for the Texture tool

Apply to Object, Apply to Face, and Replace Matching Texture modes apply a texture to, and Pick Up mode picks up the texture from, the following objects and their faces:

Generic solids

3D primitive solids (sphere, hemisphere, cone)

Extrudes, multiple extrudes, taper extrudes, and extrudes along path

Sweeps

CSG solids (add/subtract/intersect/section - Apply to Face, Replace Matching Texture, and Pick Up modes work only on objects created in Vectorworks 2020 or later)

Groups (only supported objects in groups can be textured; to use Apply to Face, Replace Matching Texture, and Pick Up modes, you must enter object editing mode)

3D symbols (only supported objects that make up the symbol can be textured; textures must be applied in object editing mode)

Apply to Object mode also applies a texture to the following objects:

3D polygons

Subdivisions (textures on subdivision objects do not display on the Object Info palette Render pane)

Some objects that use components/parts (walls, slabs, roofs, and hardscapes)

Some plug-in objects, depending how the object was made (when plug-in objects are textureable, textures do not display on the Object Info palette Render pane)

Applying a texture with Apply to Object mode

Applying a texture with Apply to Face mode

Applying a texture with Replace Matching Texture mode

Managing object textures from the Object Info palette

Textures on 3D objects

Textures on objects with components

Direct texture mapping

 

 

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