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When entering the Extended Version of the Editor, a window called “main window” automatically opens. This window controls material editing. It will allow you to name, duplicate, apply, or save a material. |
q Current object and current material
You enter the Material Editor with a current object or current group of objects. It is the object(s) to which you want to apply a material. If the object already has a material assigned, it becomes the current material. Otherwise, Amapi 3D will assign to it a default material. If you apply another material, this material will become the current material. (See paragraph “Assigning a material to the current object”).
q Naming a material
Amapi 3D gives new materials the default name “Basic” numbered in order of creation.
Click on the name of the current material to modify it or enter a new name.
You can also change the material name when storing it in the Catalog of Materials. (See paragraph “Catalog of materials”).
q Duplicating a material
This operation can be useful if you assigned the same material to different elements of the scene because you may want to modify the material applied to only one of those elements without modifying the others.
1. Make sure that the object of interest is not grouped with others before entering the Material Editor.
2. Open the Extended Material Editor.
3. Click on the “Duplicate” button. Amapi 3D creates a new material (identical to the current material) in the list of materials of the scene. It will become the current material assigned to the current object. The object will thus have its own material which is separate from the other materials.
q Saving a material
You may want to add to the materials listed in the Catalog of Materials a material you created so you can use it in other scenes. There are two possible procedures:
1st procedure:
1. Open the material directory where you want to save the material.
2. Click on the “Save” button.
3. Amapi 3D saves the material as a material file in the material directory and allows you to name it.
2nd procedure:
1. Open the material where you want to save it.
2. Drag the cursor on top of the preview window and click on the mouse button (do not release the mouse button).
3. Drag the cursor on an empty cell of the Catalog of Materials.
4. Release the mouse button.
5. Amapi 3D saves the material as a material file in the material directory and allows you to name it.
Classify your materials carefully and save only the really useful ones. Material directories can grow large quickly and become difficult to manage).
q Cancel
Click on the “Cancel” button to leave the Material Editor without modifying the current material.
q OK
Clicking on the “OK” button validates the material assigned to the current object and closes the Material Editor. The name of the validated material name will be added to the list of materials used in the scene (list managed by the Scene Manager). If you did not previously save the current material, it will not appear in the Catalog of Materials.
If, in fact, you had wanted to save the material in the Catalog of Materials, you can reload the scene, then save the material in the Catalog of Materials so as to make it available for other scenes.
