Gradient and Gradient3

Owned by Systems Next Limit (Unlicensed)
08 Jun, 2018
3 min read

 

The Gradient and Gradient3 Procedural textures generate a smooth transition between two (Gradient) or three (Gradient3) given colors along the U direction, V direction or both. These parameters can be used as color texture or in grey scale as a bump, displacement, weight map or mask texture. 

Gradient

Given two colors, the Gradient Procedural creates a smooth transition between them along the U direction, V direction or both. 

 

Examples of the Gradient procedural in use, applied to the U direction (left), V direction (middle) and both (right) 

 

Gradient Procedural parameters 

  • Blending Factor: Blend percentage of the current procedural with the result of the procedurals below in the stack. 
  • U Direction: Enabling this option creates a two-color gradient along the U direction. 
  • V Direction: Enabling this option creates a two-color gradient along the V direction. 
  • Color 0 and 1: Defines the start and end colors for the gradient. Uses black, white or grey tones when the gradient is used as a mask texture. 
  • Gradient type: Defines the numerical transition between the two values, varying from Linear, and Quadratic to Quadratic In/Out. 
  • Transition sharpness: Defines the sharpness/blurriness of the square's transition. Values vary from 0.0 to get a blurry transition up to 1.0 for a crisp sharp transition. 


The Gradient procedural parameters panel

 

Gradient3

Given three colors, the Gradient3 Procedural creates a smooth transition between them along the U direction, V direction or both. 

 

Examples of the Gradient3 procedural in use, applied to the U direction (left), V direction (middle) and both (right) 

 

Gradient3 Procedural parameters 

  • Blend Procedural: Enabling this option blends the result of the current procedural with the result of the previous procedurals in the stack. 
  • U Direction: Enabling this option creates a three-color gradient along the U direction. 
  • V Direction: Enabling this option creates a three-color gradient along the V direction. 
  • Color 0, 1 and 2: Defines the start, middle and end colors for the gradient. Uses black, white or grey tones when the gradient is used as a mask texture. 
  • Gradient type: Defines the numerical transition between the two values, varying from Linear and Quadratic to Quadratic In/Out. 
  • Color 1 position: The first and third colors are always at the start and end of the gradient. This parameter allows you to define the position of the middle color (Color 1) in the ramp. Values vary from 0 to 1. 


The Gradient3 procedural parameters panel from the render examples above