3D Impressions Help - Material Properties

These properties describe the surface material appearance of an object in terms of its color, how light affects it and if its appearance has a changing effect within the scene.  Below describes those available.  Please note that not all properties are available for light objects.

Base Appearance
Fill Type	This describes how the material is colored and has the following options: Solid - The material is uniformly given its single 'Base Color'. Linear Gradient - The material is graduated between 2 colors in a straight line fashion. Spherical Gradient - The material is graduated radiating from the 'Main Color' at its center out to 'Color 2'. Random    Color 1 or 2 - When the object is created the material is randomly given the 'Main Color' or 'Color 2'. Random    Between Colors - When the object is created the material is randomly given a color somewhere between the 'Main Color' and 'Color 2'. Random    Between RGBs - When the object is created the material is given a color based on randomly choosing red, green & blue quantities between those in 'Main Color' and 'Color 2'.
Color	This is the primary color of the object's material before any lighting takes effect.
Color Alpha	This determines how transparent or opaque the Base Color is.  A value of 255 means that the color is completely opaque and cannot be seen through.  A value of zero means that the color is completely see-through.
Color 2	This is the secondary color of the object's material used for non-solid fill types.
Color Alpha 2	This determines how transparent or opaque the Base Color 2 is.  A value of 255 means that the color is completely opaque and cannot be seen through.  A value of zero means that the color is completely see-through.
Fill Angle	Available for a Linear Gradient Fill Types, this value determines the direction in clockwise degrees of the linear gradient's direction.  A value of zero means the bottom of the material starts with the Primary Color and graduates to Color 2 at the top.
Lighting	This determines whether light source objects affect the appearance of the material.  For more information see 'Lighting'.
Specular Power	For objects affected by light, this determines how shiny the object appears.  For more information see 'Lighting'.
Specular Color	For objects affected by specular light, this affects the color of light's shiny reflection.  For more information see 'Lighting'.
Reflectivity %	For objects affected by light, this affects how mirror-like or metallic the material appears in terms of reflecting the scene's surroundings.  A value of zero means no reflection, a value of 100% means that the surface is like a pure mirror. For more information see 'Reflections'.
Picture	This allows you to place a picture or texture to the material's surface.  The picture can be obtained from a number of sources, such as a file, a web site or as a changing picture from a Picture Album.  For more information see 'Picture Sources'. The picture can also be tinted a different hue by use of the Color properties.  To show the picture normally, set the Color to true-bright.  Whereas using a shade of grey will reduce the picture's brightness and choosing a color will apply that tint to the picture.
Picture Scale By	This determines how the picture is stretched by the different scale percentage properties to the material's surface.  The following description are best expressed based on having the Picture Scale X,Y values of 100% Object - The picture is stretched to fit the surface's width and height exactly. Screen    with Overscan - The picture is stretched proportionally to match the shape of the computer screen and then scaled to fill the surface cropping any overhang. Screen    with Tiling - The picture is stretched proportionally to match the shape of the computer screen and then scaled to fit into the surface, possibly resulting in the picture being partially repeated. Picture    with Overscan - The picture is stretched proportionally to match the original shape of the picture and then scaled to fill the surface cropping any overhang. Picture    with Tiling - The picture is stretched proportionally to match the shape of the picture and then scaled to fit into the surface, possibly resulting in the picture being partially repeated. For examples see 'Picture Scaling & Tiling'.
Picture Scale X % Scale Y %	These properties determine the target scaling width and height of the picture.  The values are based on percentages and relative to the selected 'Picture Scale By' property.
Picture Center	This determines whether the picture is centralized within the material's surface.
Picture Offset X % Offset Y %	Use these properties to change the starting position on the picture upon the material. A value of 0,0 means that the top-left corner of the picture appears at the top-let corner or the material area.
Picture Tiling X Tiling Y	These properties determine if and how the picture is tiled along the property's direction. No - The picture is only shown once and not repeated. Wrap - The picture is continuously repeated. Mirror - The picture is continuously repeated, but every other one is a mirror-image. Mirror Once - This picture is shown twice with the other being its mirror-image. For examples see 'Picture Scaling & Tiling'.
Picture Border Color	This property is used when a picture ceases to be tiled and a gap would be shown.  This determines the color of that gap. For examples see 'Picture Scaling & Tiling'.
Base Material Intro Effect
Intro Effect	This describes how the material appears into view.  Such effects include fading and illumination. For a list of available effects see 'Material Effects'.
Intro Duration	This property determines the number of seconds it takes for the 'Intro Effect' to complete.
Base Material Main Effect
Main Effect	This describes how the material behaves between any Intro and Outro Effect.  Such effects include changing colors, transparency or scrolling its picture. For a list of available effects see 'Material Effects'.
Main Speed	This property determines how fast the 'Main Effect' is performed.  For example how fast its color changes or how fast a picture is scrolled.
Base Material Outro Effect
Outro Delay	This is the number of seconds delay between the 'Intro Effect' having finished before starting the 'Outro Effect'.  During this time, the 'Main Effect' is performed.
Outro Effect	This describes how the material disappears from view.  Such effects include fading and illumination. For a list of available effects see 'Material Effects'.
Outro Duration	This property determines the number of seconds it takes for the 'Outro Effect' to complete.