Applying Illumination, Surface Finishes, and Texture Mapping

Once you apply appearances to a model, you can further customize your output by selecting functions from these tabs in the Appearances PropertyManager:

Illumination

The illumination properties of appearances combine the colors of a point on a model with the light arriving from light sources that surround the model.

Surface Finish PM_Surface_Finish_tab.gif

The surface finish properties of an appearance determine the roughness of the surface.

Mapping

Textures are appearance properties. When you apply textures to geometry in SOLIDWORKS models, you need to change the appearance definition. SOLIDWORKS provides several texture mapping techniques.

Only textural appearances have editable texture properties.

To apply illumination, surface finish, and texture mapping properties:

  1. Click the Appearances, Scenes, and Decals tab_Appearances.gif tab in the Task Pane.
  2. From the Appearances tab_Appearances.gif tab , browse through the appearance folders on the top pane.
  3. Select a preview from the bottom panel.
  4. Alt + drag a preview to display the Appearances PropertyManager, then click:
    • Illumination
    • Surface Finish PM_Surface_Finish_tab.gif
    • Mapping
  5. Apply the properties from each tab and click PM_OK.gif.