Relief > Edit > Texture

Use this menu option to apply texture to a relief layer. You can apply a texture to the entire surface of a relief layer or to specific areas of a relief layer defined by vectors and bitmap colours.

Note: The Texture Relief button on the Relief Editing toolbar is a shortcut for this menu option.

To apply a texture to a relief layer:

  1. In the Project Tree, select the relief layer.
  2. Select Relief > Edit > Texture or click . The Texture Relief panel is displayed.
  3. Choose the area of the relief layer to which you want to apply the texture. Select:
    • Whole layer to apply the texture to the entire surface.
    • Selected vector to apply the texture to an area of the surface within a closed vector, and then select the vector in the 2D or 3D views.
    • Selected colour to apply the texture to an area of the surface defined by a bitmap colour, and then select the colour in the Palette. The colour swatch in the panel is updated.
  4. Choose the pattern you want to use for the texture. Select:
    • the name of a shape to use a pattern of that shape.
    • From file to use a pattern of a relief, and then click Select File to import the relief.
  5. Specify the dimensions of the shape used for the pattern:
    1. If you selected Sphere, Ellipse, Cone, Pyramid, or Weave, enter the Size.
    2. If you selected Ellipse, Cone, Pyramid, or Weave, enter a value, as a percentage of the shape's Size, in the Horizontal, Tip radius, Truncation, or Bar width box.
    3. If you selected From file, enter the Width and Height.
      Tip: Select the Scale height and width check box to keep the relief's Width and Height in proportion.
    4. Enter the Z height.
  6. Specify, as a percentage of the shape's Size, the spacing between the shapes that make up the pattern:
    1. Enter an X repeat distance to specify the distance in the X axis between the centres of adjacent shapes along the X axis.
    2. Enter a Y repeat distance to specify the distance in the Y axis between the centres of adjacent shapes along the Y axis.
    3. Enter an Overlap distance to specify the distance in the X axis between the centres of adjacent shapes along the Y axis.
  7. To merge the edges of the texture with the relief layer, select the Blend edges check box, and then enter in the box the distance from the edge at which the texture begins to merge.
  8. Choose how you want to combine the texture with the relief layer. Select:
    • Add to add the texture to the relief layer.
    • Subtract to subtract the texture from the relief layer.
  9. To display a section of the relief layer with the texture applied, select the Preview check box.
    Note: Blend effects and the combine mode cannot be previewed.
  10. Click Apply. ArtCAM applies the texture to the relief layer.

See also

Parent topic: Menus