Skip to content
English
Contact support Access my support tickets
Not a customer ?
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Visualize Rendering · Lesson 2: Appearances, textures and decals

Create and edit materials, use the online library, adjust textures and place logos.

Lesson goal

Give each component a believable material: brushed metal, textured plastic, printed logo.

▶

3 videos

✎

1 exercise

Beginner

↳

Prerequisite: Lesson 1

1. Watch the videos

Dassault Systèmes videos hosted on MySolidWorks: they open in a new tab and a free account is enough. Watch them in order.

Using Appearances in SOLIDWORKS VisualizeVideo 1▶Using Appearances in SOLIDWORKS VisualizeCreate, adjust and add appearances, including from the online library.↗ Texture MappingVideo 2▶Texture MappingThe four map types (color, alpha, specular, bump) and how to fine-tune them.↗ DecalsVideo 3▶DecalsPlace logos and screens like stickers, without changing the model.↗

2. Key takeaways

1

The Visualize online library provides ready-to-use materials: start there rather than from scratch.

2

A bump map simulates a grain or brushed finish without changing the geometry.

3

Texture size and orientation make it believable: a grain that is too large gives the render away at once.

4

A decal can be moved and replaced without touching the model: handy for producing several brand versions.

Tip

For a logo, use a high-resolution PNG with a transparent background: the decal stays sharp even in close-up.

3. Do the exercise

On the model from lesson 1:

  • apply a brushed metal and a textured plastic from the library
  • adjust the texture scale
  • place your logo as a decal
✓To check: In close-up, the grain and brushing have a realistic size and the logo stays sharp.

Stuck on the exercise or on a real part?

With Ohmycare, your dedicated engineer works through the topic with you in a 30-minute session, on your own files.

Book a session