February 06 2016

Random mapping in Cycles materials

Computer graphics are commonly recognised over realistic images because of repeating elements. In this sense, randomness usually adds an added level of realism to images. This is a method to randomly apply mapping of textures in objects. Beware that this only works with individual objects. This means you are left with a floor made of 1000 stone blocks, in which each stone is a separate object.

The trick here is to modify the vetor mapping with a Random number issued by each object. Of course this method is only good if no particular location for the texture is needed.

Following, 3 images. In each of them, you can see a rendering in which a top row with three objects use the same mapping, and the bottom row uses the tweaked mapping to achieve randomness.

  1. Example with Blender's default testing image.

Screen Shot 2016-02-06 at 00.25.53

 

2. Example with our test texture

Screen Shot 2016-02-06 at 00.25.37

 

3. Example with a common wood texture.

Screen Shot 2016-02-06 at 00.25.17