# image maps Maya and Arnold allow you to create complex materials using procedural algorithms to build patterns and surfaces. You can also use external image files to build your materials. ### how to set up procedural texture as a material Procedural textures are computer generated graphics that use different algorithms to create interesting effects. There are a number of good ones to start with, including Fractal, Noise, Mountain, Cloth. Open up [[materials - hypershade editor|Hypershade]] and create a new Arnold aiStandardSurface. You need to create a node for a procedural surface. In this example, I am using Noise. There are a few ways to get this… 1. Using pull-down menus, go to **Create > 2d Textures > Noise** 2. Using the Create Box on the left side, go to **Maya > 2d Textures > Noise** 3. In the Work Area press Tab on keyboard type in **Noise /[Texture/]** You can tweak different settings for the Noise node over in the Property Editor. Updates to the Noise texture will show up in the Sample box at the top of the Property Editor. To control how the image file is mapped to your object, you will want to add in a **Projection** node. There are three ways to get this node… 1. Using pull-down menus, go to **Create > General Utilities > Projection** 2. Using the Create Box on the left side, go to **Maya > Utilities > Projection** 3. In the Work Area press Tab on keyboard and type in **Projection** ### connect the pieces together Now it is time to connect the pieces together. This image will help you to visualize the flow. ![[Pasted image 20221024151533.png]] From the left side to the right side: - **place2dTexture**: controls scale of image and comes already connected to the file - **noise**: loads the generated texture. The Out Color output connects to the Image input of the projection node - **projection**: controls how the image is applied to the object with options like spherical, cubic, cylindrical, etc. The Out Color output connects to the aiStandardSurface Base Color input - **aiStandardSurface**: applies the surface to the material. Out Color output connects to aiStandardSurfaceSG Surface Shader input --- ## image map as surface material Add an image file to the Color parameter of a material. The setup is quite similar to the Procedural Textures setup except you are loading an external image as the visual. Use an image that is created as a seamless tile so there are no edges to the repeating pattern. > [!info]- textures and tiles > > You use seamlessly tiling images as maps to build complex textures. Here are some great places to find free tiling images. Note, some of these have paid plans with even more materials. > > - <http://texturelib.com/> > - <https://pixabay.com/images/search/seamless%20tile/> > - <https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/seamless-tile> > - <https://www.toptal.com/designers/subtlepatterns/> > - <https://www.3dxo.com/> > - <https://www.lotpixel.com/texture-library?page=&product=&order=&price=0> > - <https://3djungle.net/textures/> > - <https://www.sketchuptextureclub.com/textures/free-pbr-textures> > - <https://architextures.org/textures/sort/new> > - https://www.sharetextures.com ### how to set up image map as a material Open up [[materials - hypershade editor|Hypershade]] and create a new Arnold aiStandardSurface. You need to create a node for an image file. Either use the Create box on the left and go to **Maya > 2d Textures > File** or press the tab key on your keyboard and type in **File \[Texture\]**. Select the **File** node and go to the Property Editor on the right side of the screen. Scroll down to **File Attributes > Image Name** and select the little folder icon. Go find the image file. It is best to keep your images in your Maya Project folder. To control how the image file is mapped to your object, you will want to add in a **Projection** node. There are three ways to get this node… 1. Using pull-down menus, go to **Create > General Utilities > Projection** 2. Using the Create Box on the left side, go to **Maya > Utilities > Projection** 3. In the Work Area press Tab on keyboard and type in **Projection** ### connect the pieces together Now it is time to connect the pieces together. This image will help you to visualize the flow. ![[Pasted image 20221024144940.png]] From the left side to the right side: - **place2dTexture**: controls scale of image and comes already connected to the file - **file**: loads the image file. The Out Color output connects to the Image input of the projection node - **projection**: controls how the image is applied to the object with options like spherical, cubic, cylindrical, etc. The Out Color output connects to the aiStandardSurface Base Color input - **aiStandardSurface**: applies the surface to the material. Out Color output connects to aiStandardSurfaceSG Surface Shader input --- ## image map as decal In addition to using an image for the surface material, you can also apply images as decals or stickers. These images do not tile and appear only once on an object. I need to write this section but I’m running out of time before class. --- Learn more… - <https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/maya/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016/ENU/Maya/files/GUID-B7E73748-5F8E-4E66-BE88-DF3C2A3DF438-htm.html> --- tags: #3d #maya #resources home: [[! 3d modeling- maya]]