Understanding Materials
In IdeaRoom, the appearance of any visual element of a structure is created by four elements:
Surfaces
Materials
Colors
Lighting
Surfaces
Surfaces are created via code (parametric) or from CAD. Surfaces created via code are resized dynamically. For example, a wall automatically resizes when the building dimensions are changed. Surfaces created via CAD are typically more detailed and cannot be resized dynamically. For example, an intricate cupola or turbine vent are typically generated with CAD.
Materials
Materials are applied to surfaces to create realistic renderings. For example, a roof material may be applied to a roof surface to give the impression of architectural shingles or corrugated metal. Materials provide attributes like wood grain on siding, transparent glass, or a shiny doorknob.
Colors
Colors are applied on top of surfaces or materials. Colors are uniform. They do not provide any hue variations to the surface, which means they are good for applications like paint or metal.
Lighting
Lighting provides natural contours in 3D surfaces and materials through shadows and highlights. Lighting is set by multiple light sources configured within code that is present with every model.
The combination of the four elements above create the visual appearance of all structures and structural elements seen within IdeaRoom Designers.