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Conductor

A component for representing the specific reflectance properties of metals. In the real world, reflections and specular highlights in metals are affected by the color of the metal itself. This behavior differs to plastics, where reflections exhibit the same color as that of the incident light.

Although metals are typically quite reflective, the actual amount of reflectance varies somewhat depending on the angle of view, so that very shallow angles give higher levels of reflectance. (This effect is not as pronounced as when seen in shiny plastics or water.) A metal's reflectance is specified by setting the Index of Refraction (IOR). In this case IOR refers to the absorption of the material rather than, for example, the refraction of light rays through glass. A relatively high IOR (for example: 15 - 30) will result in a falloff curve typical of metal.

This is the same as the AnisotropicConductor component without additional control over Anisotropy.

Editing a component using Conductor

Diffuse

Colour

The basic color of the component. This can be a single color value or a texture map.

Input: Color or Map

Colour: White
Colour: White
Colour: Black
Colour: Black
Colour: Red
Colour: Red

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Reflection

Roughness

Simulates the level of polish. Higher values will result in more blurred reflections.

Input: 0.0 – 1.0 or Map

Roughness: 0.0
Roughness: 0.0
Roughness: 0.1
Roughness: 0.1
Roughness: 0.5
Roughness: 0.5

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Exponent

Controls how quickly the shininess changes between the normal and grazing values as you move across the surface.

Range: 0.01 – 25.0

Exponent: 0.01
Exponent: 0.01
Exponent: 0.5
Exponent: 0.5
Exponent: 1.5
Exponent: 1.5

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NormalReflectivity

Controls how shiny the object appears when viewed straight on. Materials of this type typically display little reflectance at 0˚ to the camera.

Input: 0.0 – 1.0 or Map

NormalReflectivity: 0.0
NormalReflectivity: 0.0
NormalReflectivity: 0.5
NormalReflectivity: 0.5
NormalReflectivity: 1.0
NormalReflectivity: 1.0

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GrazingReflectivity

Controls how shiny the object appears when viewed at a very shallow angle. Materials of this type typically display higher reflectance at 90˚ to the camera.

Input: 0.0 – 1.0 or Map

GrazingReflectivity: 0.0
GrazingReflectivity: 0.0
GrazingReflectivity: 0.5
GrazingReflectivity: 0.5
GrazingReflectivity: 1.0
GrazingReflectivity: 1.0

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UseIOR

Ignores the NormalReflectivity, GrazingReflectivity, and Exponent settings, and instead uses the IOR parameter (see below) to define the falloff curve.

Input: On/Off Checkbox

Refraction

IOR

Index of Refraction. Controls the amount of reflection and shape of the falloff curve. UseIOR must be ticked.

Range: 0.0 – 50.0

IOR: 5.0
IOR: 5.0
IOR: 15.0
IOR: 15.0
IOR: 25.0
IOR: 25.0

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Decal and Coating Layers Only

Weight

Weight

Gives control over the contribution of the layer to the overall material appearance. A value of 1.0 will completely block any effect of any material layers below. A value of 0.0 will remove the layer's contribution to the overall material appearance.

Input: 0.0 – 1.0 or Map

Weight: 0.1
Weight: 0.1
Weight: 0.5
Weight: 0.5
Weight: 1.0
Weight: 1.0

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Bump Map

Normal

Allows you to set a bump map to simulate surface detail and control the intensity and orientation of the effect.

Input: 0.0 –, or Map

Normal: 0.2
Normal: 0.2
Normal: 1.0
Normal: 1.0
Normal: 3.0
Normal: 3.0

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Material Components using Conductor

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Base

Conductor: Metal
Metal

Decal

Conductor: MetalFoil
MetalFoil

Coating

Conductor: Anodized
Anodized
Conductor: MetalPlating
MetalPlating


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