Specular Mapping

A specular map defines the shininess and highlight colour of a surface or geometry.

To add a specular map:

1. In the schematic, select the surface or 3D geometry to which you want to apply the specular.

2. Click Media.

3. In the Media menu, select the media you want to use for the specular.

4. Do one of the following:

   • Drag the Specular Map node from the node bin and place it in the schematic.
   • Drag the Specular Map node from the node bin and place it where you want it in Result view.
   • Double-click the Specular Map node. You do not need to be in Schematic view to add a node in this manner.

   The specular object is added to the schematic with its own parent axis. The new axis is the child of the selected surface or geometry. In Schematic view, the number in brackets next to the name of the Specular node indicates the media used for the specular.

   

   To specify different media as the source, select the media in the Media menu, then click Apply, or use the Read File tab to manage the texture media (see Working With Textures in Map Nodes).

   Note: If you accessed Action as a Timeline FX, you are limited to one front/matte media, and therefore may not get the desired result. In this case, you can access Action from Batch or Batch FX, or from the Tools tab.

5. Double-click the Specular node in the schematic, or follow the tab population rules for the Object menu (see Populating Menu Tabs of Selected Objects).

   The Specular menu appears.