This page provides information on the Hair Information Map.
Overview
The VRayHairInfoTex texture is specifically designed to provide control for shading various hair by respecting its properties. It can be mapped according to its length, width, opacity data, color channel, or randomized per strand. This texture can be used on Hair&Fur, VRayOrnatrixMod, VRayProxy alembic hair and VRayFur geometry.
For best results, apply the VRayHairInfoTex with VRayHairNextMtl material. See the VRayHairInfoTex Setup tutorial.
Parameters
Output – Specifies how the two colors are blended. See the examples below.
Position along strand – Blends between Color A and Color B based on the relative position of the shaded point along a hair strand. The Color A parameter is used at the root of the strands, and the Color B parameter is used at the tip.
Random by strand index – Blends between Color A and Color B randomly based on the index of each strand.
Hair&Fur /Alembic color – Provides mapped hair color that is available from the geometry itself. This mode works with the color channel of alembic hair when used in its assigned material. It can also collect the material parameters information of the Hair&Fur (WSM) modifier. For the last, you need to set the mr prim mode in Hair and Fur Rendering options and apply the actual material in the Custom Shader rollout of the Hair&Fur parameters.
Hair&Fur opacity – This mode works only for Hair&Fur (WSM) modifier; the resulting color is taken from the opacity generated by the Tip Fade parameter of the Hair&Fur modifier.
Position along strand absolute – Blends between Color A and Color B based on the absolute distance of the shaded point along a hair strand. This option uses the Distance parameter instead of hair tip to pin the Color B position. When the Distance is lower than the actual hair length, the gradient is repeated over the length of the hair strand.
Position across strand – Blends between Color A and Color B based on the relative position of the shaded point across a hair strand.
Color A – The first color used when Output is Position along strand, Position along strand absolute, or Random by strand index. This parameter can be mapped in the Maps section below.
Color B – The second color used when Output is Position along strand, Position along strand absolute, or Random by strand index. This parameter can be mapped in the Maps section below.
Bias – Can be used to move the middle point between the two colors when Output is Position along strand, Position along strand absolute, or Random by strand index. This parameter can be mapped in the Maps section below.
Distance – Sets the max strand length when using Position along strand absolute. Typically, this value should be equal to the longest strand of hair. This option is mappable, allowing different parts in a hair system to have different max lengths.
Seed offset – The random seed when Output is Random by strand index.
Maps
The settings on the Maps rollout determine the various texture maps used by the VRayHairInfoTex. Here you can enable/disable them or specify their opacity. A value of 100% means full opacity and a value of 0% means the parameter uses the color specified in the Parameters rollout.
Color A – Specifies a texture to be used instead of the Color A color.
Color B – Specifies a texture to be used instead of the Color B color.
Bias – Specifies a texture to be used instead of the Bias value.
Distance – Specifies a texture to be used instead of the Distance value.
Example: Random By Strand Index
VRayHairInfoTex in mode Random By Strand Index when used as Melanin texture for VRayHairNextMtl.
Bias = 0.1
Bias = 0.3
Bias = 0.5
Bias = 0.7
Bias = 0.9
Example: Position Along Strand
VRayHairInfoTex in mode Position Along Strand when used as Melanin texture for VRayHairNextMtl.
Bias = 0.1
Bias = 0.3
Bias = 0.5
Bias = 0.7
Bias = 0.9
Example: Position Along Strand Absolute
VRayHairInfoTex in mode Position Along Strand Absolute when used as Melanin texture for VRayHairNextMtl.
Distance = 2
Distance = 6
Distance = 10
Distance = 14
Distance = 18
Example: Sets Melanin texture for VRayHairNextMtl
VRayHairInfoTex used as a mapping source of Gradient Ramp to set Melanin texture for VRayHairNextMtl in a precise manner.
Gradient Ramp flags positioned at 40 and 60
Gradient Ramp flags positioned at 60 and 80
Gradient Ramp flags positioned at 70 and 80
Gradient Ramp flags positioned at 70 and 98
Gradient Ramp flags positioned at 95 and 98
Example: Sets multi color Dye texture for VRayHairNextMtl
VRayHairInfoTex used as a mapping source of Gradient Ramp to set multi color Dye texture for VRayHairNextMtl material.
Position Along Strand
Position Along Strand Absolute
Random By Strand Index