Shader Library
All shaders and environments that you can assign to objects are listed in the Shader Library. This includes libraries that you have installed on your system such the Autodesk Automotive Assets library.
Drag and drop any shader or environment into the Shader Lister, or into the scene.
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Shader Library icon bar
- Add Directory - Adds the location of directory containing shaders or environments, such as the Automotive Assets library, so you can access it in the Shader Library.
- Delete Directory - Removes the selected library directory from the Shader Library. The shader and environment files are not permanently deleted from you system.
- Search - Lets you use keywords to search for shaders and environments included in the library by name.
- Filters - Lets you choose to only display Shader Files or Environment Files in the library. By default both are selected to be displayed.
- Settings - Access the Shader Library settings.
- Preview Size - Adjust the size of the shader and environment preview swatches.
- More - Access the shader Library More menu.
- Automotive Assets - Lists the additional libraries added to the Shader Library, such as the Automotive Assets library.
- Import Selected - Adds the selected shader or environment to the Shader Lister.
- Rebuild- Refreshes the Shader Library display to include recently added shader or environment files. After being added the the Shader Editor, you can then customize the shader by editing its parameters.
Assign shaders from the Automotive Asset Library
The Automotive Assets Library (an application) installs with Alias Automotive Studio. The Automotive Asset Library provides common VRED materials that you can load into Alias as read-only approximations of the VRED materials. When you send a file to VRED, the Alias approximation is discarded and VRED uses the associated VRED material instead.
You can edit the common materials and create new customized versions of materials using Shader Lister and Shader Editor.
Access and use VRED materials in Alias
In the Shader Library, open the More menu, and then select Automotive Assets.
The Shader Library provides the path to the VRED materials.
Click the path to access the VRED materials in the library.
You can assign materials to models and surface from the Shader Library by LMB-drag a material. However, if you want to modify the material, you must drag it to the Shader Lister. See Shader Lister workflows.
To edit a common material from the Automotive Asset Library
LMB-drag a material into the Shader Lister.
Double-click the material swatch to open its parameters in the Shader Editor.
Update the material settings.
Assign the material to your models or surfaces using the same methods as Alias shaders.
For information on material settings and the Asset Manager, see the VRED help.
Create a new material in the Automotive Asset Library
You can create new materials based on VRED common materials, and then save them to your Automotive Assets User Library. From this location, the materials can then be used in Alias.
In VRED
Right-click in the Material Editor and select Create Material from the context-menu.
Select a common material from the material list as a starting point for your custom material.
Customize your material by adjusting the settings in the Attribute Pane.
For descriptions for the most noteworthy material attributes, see Attributes in the VRED Online Help.
Drag the new material from the Material Editor and drop it on your user directory in the Materials list to save it.
To edit materials after you saved them, follow the steps in the To edit a common material in the Automotive Asset Library section above.
In Alias
To use the material in Alias, in the Shader Library, select Automotive Assets from the More menu.
Automotive Assets library updates to include tabs containing your customized common VRED materials.