Materials and textures in 3D graphics are like the "skin" of 3D objects. They determine how surfaces appear and interact with light. Materials define properties like color, shininess, and transparency, while textures are 2D images used to create intricate surface details.
Materials add realism and depth to your 3D presentations without needing complex geometry. Textures make 3D models look more convincing, whether it's the roughness of a rock surface or the gloss of a car paint. They're a vital tool for creating visually appealing and lifelike 3D visualizations and augmented reality experiences.
Editing materials on desktop app
The material property panel on desktop for Windows and Mac allows you to customize and fine-tune the appearance of your 3D objects with precision. With this panel, you can achieve a level of realism and detail that will bring your products to life.
In this guide, we'll walk you through each parameter available in the Material Property Panel.
1 Material Library
In the Material Library, you'll discover a diverse range of materials, including options like plastic, metal, rubber, marble, and more.
2 Color
Allows you to select and adjust the base color of your 3D object. Select a color from the color picker or enter a HEX color code to match your object’s hue accurately.
3 Transparency
The transparency setting determines how see-through or opaque your object appears. Adjust the transparency slider or input a specific value to control how much light passes through the material. Use this feature to create glass-like transparency or achieve various levels of translucency for your 3D models, or to simply hide an object from viewers on a step.
4 Image/Video (Diffuse)
Diffuse enables you to add a texture or image to your object's surface. This texture will define the detailed appearance of your material. You can upload images or videos.
5 Reset material
Restores an object’s material to its default settings, undoing any customizations or modifications you've made.
Advanced material settings
Advanced settings enable you to customize material properties like roughness and metalness, or add texture maps and emission, giving you more control over your 3D model’s visual appearance.
1 Emission color
Allows your 3D model to emit light of a particular color, enhancing its visual appeal. Select a color from the color picker or enter a HEX color code to precisely control the emitted light's hue.
2 Emission Intensity
Adjust the intensity slider to make the emitted light subtle or intense.
3 Normal texture
Introduces surface details and depth to your object. By adding a Normal map, you can simulate surface bumps, indents, and finer details without increasing the model's geometric complexity enhancing the object's visual realism.
4 Normal Intensity
Adjusts the strength or prominence of the surface details in the Normal map. Increase this setting for more pronounced bumps and indents, or decrease it for subtler surface effects.
5 RMA texture
The RMA Texture includes three maps: roughness, metalness, ambient occlusion. Roughness controls the smoothness or roughness of the surface. Metalness defines the metallic properties of the material, and Ambient Occlusion adds realistic shadows and depth.
6 Roughness
Increase it for a rougher texture, and decrease it for a smoother, glossier appearance.
7 Metalness
Adjust this setting to make your object appear more or less like a metal surface.
8 Flow Speed U and flow speed V
Control the movement of textures on your object's surface. These settings are particularly useful when you want to animate or simulate dynamic materials, such as flowing water or shifting patterns. Adjust these parameters to achieve the desired texture movement along the U (horizontal) and V (vertical) axes.
Editing materials on mobile app
You can add materials to your 3D models in JigSpace on iPad and iPhone, via the floating toolbar. To edit textures or customize materials, use the desktop app for Windows or Mac.
To give an object materials, select your object or sub-object and tap on the color {icon-colour.svg} button on the toolbar. Then select the Material tab. In the Material Menu scroll through and experiment with the different materials on your model.
Note: Unlike color, when you assign a material to your object this attribute will be present across every step of the Jig.
You can edit color independently of materials.
First select a material. Once you have found the right material go to the Color tab and edit the color. If you change the material the new material will overwrite these color changes.
