Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
The File Node
You use the file node to import image files into Maya for texturing. For instance, if you
want to texture a CG face with a digital picture of your own face, you can use the file
node to import a Maya-supported image file.
Figure 7.38
The File
texture node
Importing an Image File as a Texture
To attach an image to the Color attribute of a Lambert shader, for
example, follow these steps:
1. Create the Lambert shader. (Phong, Blinn, or any of the shaders
will do.)
2. Click the Map button to map a texture on the Color attribute
of the new Lambert shader. Select the file node as a normal tex-
ture. (You can also use a projected texture with an image file.)
The Attribute Editor shows the attribute for the file node. See
Figure 7.38.
3. Next to the Image Name attribute, click the Folder icon to open
the file browser. Find the image file of choice on your com-
puter. (It's best to put images to use as textures in the project's
Sourceimages
folder. As a matter of fact, the file browser defaults
directly to the
Sourceimages
folder of your current project.)
Double-click the file to load it.
4. After you import the image file, it connects to the Color attri-
bute of that shader and also automatically connects the alpha to
transparency if there is an alpha channel in the image. You can
position it as you please by using its Place2dTexture node or by
manipulating the projection node if you created the File texture
node as a projection.
You can attach an image file to any attribute of a shader that is
mappable
, meaning it's able to accept a texture node. Frequently,
image files are used for the color of a shader as well as for bump and
transparency maps. You can replace the image file by double-clicking
the File texture node in the Hypershade and choosing another image
file with the file browser. Maya disconnects the current image file and
connects the new file.
Using Photoshop Files: The PSD File Node
Maya can also use Adobe Photoshop PSD files as image files in creating shading net-
works. The advantage of using PSD files is that you can specify the layers within the
