Load and Save Materials

The material library in iClone provides multiple texture channels and seamless tiling capability with which it can easily turn low polygon 3D models into highly detailed 3D props.

Load Material

Step 1. Select the target 3D object for material change.

• 3D Objects without unique UV layout settings.

  One simple 3D object usually has a single material ID; you may change the whole material look by directly applying one of the material templates.

  Please refer to UV Reference for more information.

• Objects with UV layout settings.

  The 3D Blocks embedded in iClone contain a predefined UV layout, which is easier for custom texture design. You may need to re-generate texture UV for the whole object to have the complete texture cover the whole 3D object. In this case, use box wrapping method for box shaped objects, and sphere wrapping for spheres or balls.

  Please refer to Replacing and Regenerating Model UV and Model Mapping Method for more information.

• Compound Objects with several Material IDs.

  A compound 3D object always contains several material IDs. For example, a house can have its unique material setting for roof, walls and floors. You may use the material picker to pick the desired material ID.

  Please refer to Retrieving Material Settings and Mapping Method for Multi-Material Object for more information.

Step 2. Click the Load Material button and browse the material from the Windows Explorer.

• iClone provides a material library in which templates with texture settings are optimized and ready for use. The extension of material templates is .iMtl. (You may find them in C:\Program Files\Reallusion\iClone 4\Template\iClone Template\Materials Lib)

• Click the Explore button to open the folder in which your current materials are located.

• Switch the display mode to view thumbnail images for material templates. Click Open to apply the selected material template

  Simple model with single material ID.	Material template applied.
  Compound model with multiple material IDs.	Various material templates applied to individual material IDs.

Save Material

Once you save modified material settings as a new material template, they can be used repetitively afterwards.

Save as Material Template

1. Select the object and then use the Pick tool to pick the material from which you want to save the texture settings as material template.

   

2. Click Save Material button.

3. Browse to the destination folder to store the template. If you select an existing material file, it will be replaced by the new one.

What is included in a Material Template?

	1.	The texture maps for the seven channels. Please refer to the Adjusting Colors on Seven Texture Channels and Texture Channel UV Offset and Tiling sections for more information. The Strength value of each channel.
	2.	The values of Reflection and Refraction are saved. Please refer to the Modifying Texture Settings - Advanced section for more information.
	3.	The Diffuse, Ambient, Specular colors are saved. Please refer to the Modifying Texture Settings - Advanced section for more information.
	4.	The Opacity, Self-Illumination, Specular and the Glossiness values of individual material are saved. Please refer to the Modifying Texture Settings - Advanced section for more information. The 2-sided status is also be saved.

Effect All Materials

When an object contains multiple material IDs, it may be a hard task for you to adjust their texture settings individually. IClone provides a feature for you to change them all at the same time.

1. In the Select Material drop-down list, pick any material to modify.

2. Modify the parameters: Diffuse Color, Ambient Color, Specular Color, Opacity, Self-illumination, Specular and Glossiness.
   (Please refer to the Modifying Texture Settings - Advanced section for more information about the effects of these settings.)

3. Check the Effect All Materials to apply these settings to all the materials on the list.

The initial appearance of the model.	One of the materials is modified. Diffuse Color: Blue Ambient Color: Dark Blue Specular: 155 Glossiness: 20 Effect All Materials: Unchecked	Effect All Materials: checked.