Glossary

Map Channel

Left: Scene uses different map channels to place different copies of the same maps in different locations.
Right: The three maps used to create the streets and the traffic markers painted on them

A map channel associates a map with an object's mapping coordinates.

When you turn on Generate Mapping Coordinates for an object, the coordinates use map channel 1. You can assign new map channels with new mapping coordinates by applying a UVW Map modifier to the object. Map channel values can range from 1 to 99.

A map's map channel value identifies which of an object's mapping coordinates to use. Different map channels allow maps for the same object to use different coordinates. For example, you might use one channel for diffuse mapping and a different one for bump mapping. See Mapping Material Components.

Different map channels can have different U and V tiling values, different U and V offsets, and so on. In the UVW Map modifier, you can also set different map channels to have different mapping types (planar, cylindrical, spherical, and so on).