This page provides information about the Layered node in V-Ray for Cinema 4D.


Overview

The Layered texture node offers stacking of multiple textures on top of each other in order to mix their output. The result of each layer depends on the Blend Mode with the next layer in the stack. You can also use a mask to control what parts of the texture appear in the render.

Note that the layer at the top is the one with the highest number. That is, Layer[0] is the bottom layer.



Layers


Add/Remove Layer buttons – Adds or removes a layer in the stack.

Enabled – Switch on to use the layer in the stack. When disabled, the layer has no effect on the output.

Texture – Select the texture to be used in the layer.

Mask – Select a texture map to be used as a mask.

Blend Mode – Specifies how the layer blends with the result from all layers above it:

When adding a new layer, it is placed on the bottom of the stack and it is considered the foreground (FG).

The result of all layers above it is considered the background (BG). Layers are applied from the top to the bottom.

Where darker and lighter pixels are mentioned below, it is in relation to mid-grey.

Blend ModeDescription
NormalDisplays the current layer (FG) on top of all layers (BG) without blending. This is the default.
AverageThe average of the current layer (FG) and the result from the layers below it (BG).
AddAdds the FG to the BG.
SubtractSubtracts the FG from the BG.
DarkenCompares the FG to the BG and takes the darker pixel values of the two.
MultiplyMultiplies the FG by the BG.
Color BurnThe color of the FG is applied to darker pixels in the BG.
Linear BurnSame as Color Burn but with less contrast.
LightenCompares the FG to the BG and takes the lighter of the two.
ScreenMakes both light and dark areas lighter.
Color DodgeThe color of the FG is applied to lighter pixels in the BG.
Linear DodgeSame as Color Dodge but with less contrast.
SpotlightSame as Multiply, but with twice the brightness.
Spotlight BlendSame as Spotlight, but additionally brightens the BG.
OverlayDarker pixels become darker where the BG is dark and brighter pixels become brighter where the BG is bright.
SoftlightDarker pixels become darker where the FG is dark and brighter pixels become brighter where the FG is bright.
HardlightSpotlight is applied to pixels where the FG is dark and Screen is applied to pixels where the FG is bright.
PinlightReplaces the BG colors depending on the brightness of the FG color.
If the FG color is lighter than mid-gray, BG colors darker than the FG color are replaced and vice versa.
HardmixAdds the FG to the BG and for each color component returns a value of 255, if the result is 255 or greater,
or returns 0, if the result is less than 255.
DifferenceCompares the pixels in the BG and FG and subtracts the darker pixels from the brighter ones.
ExclusionSame as Difference but with less contrast.
HueUses the hue from the FG , while the value and saturation are taken from the BG.
SaturationUses the saturation from the FG, while the value and hue are taken from the BG.
ColorUses the hue and saturation from the FG, while the value is taken from the BG.
ValueUses the value from the FG, while the hue and saturation are taken from the BG.


Opacity – Adjusts the transparency of the layer in a 0 to 1 range, where 1 is fully opaque and 0 is fully transparent.



Properties


Color Mult – Specifies a strength multiplier for the texture color.

Color Offset – Color corrects the texture by adding the RGB color values specified here to the RGB color values in the texture.

Alpha Mult – Specifies a multiplier for the texture alpha.

Alpha Offset – Specifies an additional offset for the texture alpha.

Invert – When enabled, inverts the resulting texture color.

Invert Alpha – When enabled and Invert from Color Tweaks is also enabled, the resulting texture alpha is inverted as well.

Allow Negative Colors – If disabled, negative colors are clamped. Enable to allow negative colors.