Creating a granite texture

1. Open the Multi-lister window, and display only the shaders (Render > Multi-lister > Shaders).
2. Double-click the Tabletop shader to open the Tabletop control window.

   

3. In the Tabletop Control Window, change the Shading Model to Phong. This will allow you to create a more reflective surface for the tabletop. Phong is good for polished stone -- the highlights are based on the light’s color.

   

4. Click the Map button next to the Color field to open the Texture Procedures window.

   

5. In the Solid section, click the Granite button.

   

   The Granite Control window opens.

   

6. Within the Granite Texture Parameters, there are four variables that control the color of the granite. Click the color swatch next to the Filler Color parameter.

   

   The Color Editor opens.

   

7. Select a teal color, or set the red value to 51, green to 255, and blue to 255. Drag the cross hair cursor on the color triangle toward the bottom apex, which will darken the color.

   

8. Now, you will change the colors of the small aggregate stone flecks within the granite. Click the Color2 parameter to open the Granite:Color 2 Editor.

   

   Darken the color by moving the cross hairs down on the triangle.

   

9. Click the Color3 parameter to open the Granite: Color 3 Editor.

   

   Darken it, as well.

   

10. Look at the Tabletop swatch in the Multi-lister. It displays the edited Granite texture.

    

    NoteThe flat brown shader originally assigned to the Tabletop shader is invisible, because color textures supersede the shader color.
11. Close the Color Editor, Granite Control Window, and Multi-lister.

Rendering the scene

Now, you will render the scene to see the granite texture on the tabletop.

1. Select the Render command (Render > Render).

   The File Browser opens to the pix directory of the Lessons project.

2. Click the Save button to overwrite the previous file named render4.

   A dialog appears, asking if you want to overwrite the file. Click OK.

   The rendering process begins.

3. Click the Show button on the Render Monitor to view the rendered image.

   The tabletop now has a granite surface. Although the camera angle that you are using does not show the thickness of the tabletop, if you were to re-position the camera to view the table thickness and re-rendered the scene, the table would look like it was cut from a solid piece of granite.

   

4. Click the close box on the window bar of the rendered image to close it.

Save your work

1. Save your work in the wire file of the Lessons directory.
2. Name your file myadv_rend3.wire.