#keyshot tips

Rarely in life do you find a perfectly finished and unmarred surface. Whether its due to manufacturing marks, scratches or fingerprints, surfaces tend to have small imperfections you may not even notice. When you want to add these types of imperfections or create more advance materials in KeyShot, the most flexible option is the Material Graph in KeyShot Pro.

Multi-Layer Bump Textures in KeyShot

When working in KeyShot, a great way to make scenes more convincing is to imagine how your object might be used and purposely add subtle surface imperfections. One way to do this quickly and easily is with bump textures.

For an example, download the coffee grinder model from KeyShot Cloud. It contains the Material Graph setup shown in the video as described below and also includes Multi-Materials which demonstrate how you would setup colorway options.

Download Coffee Grinder on KeyShot Cloud

Now, let's go through the steps:

1. Add a Base Material

To get started you need a base material to work from. Go ahead and drag-and-drop a plastic material from the Material Library onto the model, then double-click the part with the new material. This displays the Material Properties.

2. Open The Material Graph

Click the Material Graph button to open the Material Graph. With the Material Graph open, you'll see two blocks in the workspace - these are called nodes. Think of these nodes as the ingredients of a material. To the left of the Plastic node is a series of input channels that allow you to customize and control your materials appearance. For now, we’ll focus on Bump.

The material nodes in the KeyShot Material Graph.The Plastic material node (left - with Bump input) and the Root node (right - with dark border).

3. Add the First Texture

Our goal is to make the surface look a bit more textured adding some wear or scratches to the surface to make it feel like it’s had some use over its life. To do this using bump maps, right-click in the Material Graph Work Area and from the Textures flyout menu, choose a texture node, like  Noise. Then, attach the output of the texture node to the Bump input of the Plastic node. You'll immediately see that the surface of the model change to reflect the current settings of the texture that was applied.

Where's my Texture? Be aware that the degree to which your bump is visible is highly dependent on the scale of your model and scene. If your bump is not visible or is too large, then just double click your bump texture which will open the material properties on the right. From here you’ll be able to adjust scale and height of you texture to better fit your needs.

4. Add the Second Texture

Once you're happy with the first bump texture appearance, let's add the second texture. Typically, you cannot add more than one bump map to a material. However, with the Material Graph you can. Right-click in the Material Graph Work Area again and from the Textures flyout menu, choose a another texture node, like Scratches. Now, if you try to connect that texture to the same Bump node, it replaces the other. That's definitely not what you want.

5. Add the Bump Add Utility Node

To combine, or layer, both textures use a Bump Add utility node. To add, right-click the Material Graph Work Area and choose Bump Add from the Utility node flyout menu or right-click the Noise texture's connector line and choose Bump Add. The Noise texture will now be connected to the Bump 1 input.

Attach the output of the Scratches node to the Bump 2 input of the Bump Add node. Adjust your new texture to your liking using the Bump Add node to decide the ratio and weight of each bump map. You can stack as many bump maps as you’d like simply by adding more Bump Add nodes.

This is just one example of how you can use the KeyShot Material Graph to create amazing and advanced materials. You can learn more about the Material Graph in the KeyShot manual. And don't miss our webinar where we go into more detail on advanced material creation using the KeyShot Material Graph.

Watch the Quick Tip & Webinar

Need KeyShot Pro? Check it out here.

What Can You Create?

In our last quick tip, we looked at how to create surface dust in KeyShot. But, what if you want a bit of dust floating in the air? As with any rendering, the little details add that extra bit of realism, and one way to add more detail to your scene is to add some atmosphere with floating dust. Today, we'll look at how to do that.

Adding Floating Dust in KeyShot

With KeyShot, you can easily create a floating dust effect by enveloping your scene with basic geometry that has Flakes added using the KeyShot Pro Material Graph. You can make it as dense or as subtle as you like to add just the right level of atmosphere. To get started, open your scene in KeyShot. Now, let's get into it.

1. Add Basic Geometry

First, add a piece of geometry from the Library, Model tab. A cube works well but a cylinder or sphere could be used also. Scale the geometry so it envelopes the scene in your Camera View (just as you would when creating fog with scattering medium). This is going to be the substrate for the floating dust.

2. Apply Material

With your cube at proper scale, change the material to something that mimics dust particles as closely as possible. A transparent or cloudy plastic works well, but there are a variety of materials that can be used for dust. A transparent material works well since light passes and bends through the particles making it less likely to have strange reflections or shadows. When particles are not transparent, unlit areas may look too dark. Once you have your material set, it’s time to add the flake geometry.

3. Add Flake Geometry

Double-click the cube to display the Material Properties, then open the Material Graph. Right-click the workspace and select  Geometry, then Flakes, from the menu. Attach the new node to the Geometry input of your parent material. Now hit Execute Geometry Node (at the bottom of the Flake Properties) to see how the flakes look.

4. Adjust Flakes Properties

At this point, adjust the Flakes Size and Density to decrease the flake's visibility and make them seem more like floating specks. The amount to adjust each parameter will depend on personal preferences, so adjust them until you have a size and density you feel works best for your specific scene.

5. Add Depth of Field

The particles may not feel quite like dust, so in the Project Window, select the Camera tab and check the Depth of Field option. This will blur the particles slightly. A little goes a long way, so start small, particularly if you don’t want a visible depth of field. Adjust the settings so the entire scene is in focus but with enough depth of field that the flakes are blurred and appear more like floating dust.

Today, we have a quick tip to help you create clean, crisp product shots. It's from a question we get a lot: How do I get a super nice, all white backgrounds for my renderings. Well, there are two ways to do it. Let's have a look.

White Backgrounds in KeyShot

Why would you want a white background for your product shots? Beside a clean appearance, white backgrounds provide more flexibility when post-processing an image or working it into a web or print layout.

1. Set the Environment Background

The first option is to head over to the Project window, Environment tab, then scroll down to the Background drop down. By default, KeyShot uses the Lighting Environment as the background, but we’re going to switch that to Color and make sure that color is set to white. And that’s a really quick way to achieve a white background in KeyShot.

2. Switch to Photographic Image Style

If you’re a KeyShot Pro user you’ll have access to the Photographic image settings in the Image tab. With that enabled, switch the Response Curve to Linear, scroll down to the Layers setting and uncheck Background Color. Again, make sure the color there is set to white. And there you go. When toggled on and off, you can see the difference it makes. It really cleans up the edges of the product and makes the background a nice, crisp white.

Now, if you have a white product on a white background, you may need to take a slightly different approach, adjusting not only the scene background color, but your material settings as well. To do that, be sure to check out the blog post to see how Esben Oxholm creates white on white product renderings.

You can learn more about the Environment and Image settings in the KeyShot Manual. If you're interested in trying KeyShot Pro, just visit portal.keyshot.com/try/keyshot.

What Can You Create?

We would love to see what you create with this tip. Visit the KeyShot Amazing Shots forum to see what others are creating and share your own work.

If you’re trying to add some depth to a logo or label in KeyShot, but don’t have the geometry of the graphic modeled on your part, you can easily create the illusion of an embossed or debossed graphic by using a simple bump map.

Emboss and Deboss Labels

KeyShot Labels are usually used to add decals and graphic detail to your model. However, labels can act as a sort of secondary material complete with texture map capabilities to add more detail and more flexibility to your model setup. Let's take a look at how it's done.

1. Create a White Version of Your Graphic

To get started, you’ll first want to create a white version of your logo or graphic. Colored images may still work, but white tends to create the best results when adjusting your bump maps. Add just a bit of blur to your image to feather the edges. Now, when the bump map is applied, the transition between surface heights will appear slightly graduated to add just a bit more realism to your scene. Then, save your image as a PNG with a transparent background.

2. Apply Label to Model

To apply your newly created label to your model in KeyShot, you can either drag and drop the image onto your model and select an option from the pop-up Texture Map Type dialog, drag and drop the image into the Labels list, or select the Add Label icon to the left of the list and add the image from its saved folder.

3. Position the Label

Next, position your label in its desired location and scale to your needs. Once your label has been applied to your preferred location, you’re ready to create your bump texture.

4. Add Bump Texture

In the Label Textures sub-tab, alt+click and drag your Diffuse layer onto the Bump layer (Option+click if you are an Mac user). If you’re a KeyShot Pro user and prefer to work in the Material Graph, connect the texture to your label material’s bump input, and you’ll achieve the same result.

5. Adjust Label Properties

Finally, adjust the Bump Height to a positive number to create an embossed or raised effect, and adjust it to a negative number to create a debossed or indented effect. Typically, it doesn’t take much adjustment to your Bump Height to achieve your desired result, so start small and work your way in either direction as needed.

With your label in place and bump height set, you can now move on to making further edits to your label, such as adjusting your label Type to a different material or changing the labels color by using the Blend with Color checkbox.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to give your product or vehicle renderings more realism is to add presence in your scenes by setting them on a surface and adding a nice shadow or ground reflection.

You may have used KeyShot geometry, a table or podium model, or even a duplicate of the object itself to showcase the product on what appears like a real-world surface. But hands down, the easiest way achieve that effect is to add a Ground Plane. Let's take a look at how to do so and how to work with them.

Add a Ground Plane

To add a ground plane to your scene, simply click on the Edit  on the main menu, select Add Geometry and choose Add Ground Plane from the menu, or use the Ctrl+G hotkey to add it quickly.

Add Models with a Hotkey (and Customize it!)

If there are Library Models you add to your scene regularly, you can assign a hotkey to add them more quickly. You can update the hotkeys under Edit, Preferences, Hotkeys or, in the Library, Models tab, right-click on the model, select Assign Hotkey, and choose the one you would like to use.

Once selected, the ground plane will be added to your scene. You may not see it but, don't worry, it's there. In the Project window, select the Scene tab, then select the Ground Plane under the Model Sets. You'll see an orange outline appear around the edge of the ground plane in the Real-time View.

At this point, you may also notice that shadows and ground reflections appear no different than before adding the geometry. Let's look at two ways to change that.

Add a Material to a Ground Plane

A common method is to apply a material that has the qualities you’d like for a ground surface. For instance, when you add a rough black metal material you'll see a nice, diffused reflection on a neutral-colored surface. From this point, adjust the ground material as you would any other material in KeyShot.

Depending on your camera angle, this can create a horizon line in your scene which may or may not be desired. If you prefer a seamless ground plane you can adjust the camera angle, increase the size of the ground plane, or adjust the ground plane material settings.

Adjust Material Properties of a Ground Plane

For this method, double-click the ground plan in the Real-time View to view the Material properties in the Project window.

Adjust Specular Color Click the Specular color and change it from black to white. You should see a reflection of your model appear on the ground plane’s surface. Next, adjust the Reflection Contrast slider from 0 (a very faint reflection) to 1 (a very defined reflection).

Adjust Roughness Once you have a desired appearance, adjust the Roughness slider to diffuse the model’s reflection, if desired. Generally, even highly reflective surfaces have a little texture, so unless you’re trying to make your object look like it is sitting on top of a mirrored surface, it’s a good idea to give the ground surface a small amount of roughness. On the other hand, if your goal is to create a more emphasized shadow, you can crank up the roughness to diffuse the reflection to a point where it is unrecognizable and appears more shadow like.

Adjust Refractive Index You can also adjust the Refractive Index to increase or decrease the amount highlights/colors are picked up in the ground’s reflection. Increasing this will make the colors more pronounced.

Clip geometry below ground The Clip geometry below ground option will ensure any geometry below the ground plane is not visible. While this is generally not needed for most product renders, the is often used on automotive images to clip the tires and provide a more realistic appearance of tire compression. Without this, you would see a portion of the tires below the ground plane.

Activate Ground Illumination It’s also good practice to activate Ground Illumination so light is reflected off the ground back onto your model in a more natural way. To do so, simply click the checkbox.

But wait, there's more...

At this point, your scene should have a ground shadow and/or reflection that makes your model pop, but there are a couple more tips to share.

One advantage of the second method above is the ability to seamlessly blend a background. Whether you use an HDRI, a solid background color, or a backplate image, this method allows you to quickly and easily make your models fit naturally into any environment of your choosing. Then, you can add multiple environments to explore your model under different lighting and background conditions.

Lastly, if you use KeyShot Pro, you have the ability to jump into the Material Graph and add textures to the ground plane as you would any other material. Give it a try to explore some of the different texture options within the graph and add some interesting effects or a bit more realism to your scenes.

What Can You Create?

We would love to see what you create with this tip. Visit the KeyShot Amazing Shots forum to see what others are creating and share your own work.

Today, we'll look at how to create shared KeyShot Resource folders to help organize your assets and collaborate across a network.

Shared KeyShot Resource Library

Shared folders allow you to point KeyShot to access files in folders that are shared on a server or local computer. To view your current folder locations, go to Edit (Windows)/KeyShot (Mac), Preferences, and select Folders. Here you can specify the location for all folders or customize each resource type independently. Let's take a deeper look at how to change this and a few things to keep in mind when doing so.

Download The Model from GrabCAD

KeyShot Resource Folder Location

By default, the KeyShot Resource folder is located under Documents on Windows and under Library, Application Support on Mac. However, this folder can be located somewhere more convenient, like your desktop or even a shared network drive.

If Changing Location, Update Preferences

When moving the KeyShot Resource folder, just make sure the correct location is specified in the KeyShot Folder preferences by clicking the folder icon and selecting the appropriate folder.

Set Each Resource Location or Add Multiple Locations

Similarly, you can customize the individual resource folder location. Select the Customize each folder option, then click the folder icon to open the Configure Folders window. Here, you can change the default location or add multiple folder locations and shared directories. Simply, select the current folder and click Edit to replace or hit the plus icon to add additional locations.

Keep Folders Read-Only

If a folder is not set as the Default folder, it can be marked as Read-only You may want to consider this the network is protected or you want to prevent new resources from being added. By default, additional locations will be marked Read-only.

Restart to Save Folder Location Updates

When you’re done customizing your folder locations, KeyShot will need to restart. Upon reopening, you’ll notice your second location under Shared Folders within the respective Resource tab.

Setting custom resource locations and adding shared folders is a great way to keep your library organized and share resources with others across a network. You can learn more about KeyShot Folder Options and Preferences in the KeyShot Manual.

What Can You Create?

We would love to see what you create with this tip. Visit the KeyShot Amazing Shots forum to see what others are creating and share your own work. And if you have a suggestion for another tip share it in the comments below.

Learn more about Shared Resource Libraries.

Camera mapping of textures and labels has been a feature in KeyShot for quite some time. The Camera mapping type projects your texture or label onto your model based on the camera’s orientation. When you move the camera, the projected texture moves as well.

What is Lock Camera Map?

In some cases, you might need to anchor a projected texture to a certain camera angle. That’s where the new Lock Camera Map feature in KeyShot is really helpful. You'll find it in the Move Texture options when a texture is using the Camera mapping type.  With Lock Camera Map activated, the texture stays locked in that original camera position, which allows you to freely move the camera without affecting the texture mapping.

The model shown in the video, can be downloaded here from Sketchup Warehouse.

Download The Model

Using Camera mapping with Camera Map Lock is great way to get quick results without too much effort. Our video example is a really simple CAD model with the source image accurately mapped and locked. It gives the impression that all of these details are really built into the scene. As you can see, some nice renderings can be achieved.

Even though you have a limited range of motion until the perspective of the projected texture breaks, you can still create stills and animations with careful, thoughtful camera movements.

I'm sure you have other ideas about how you can use this for your camera mapping and we can't wait to see how you use it. You can learn more about Camera Mapping Types and Textures in the KeyShot Manual.

KeyShot allows you to easily hide and show parts or groups of parts. When you right-click in the Real-time View, you will see the various hide/show options. A new option added for KeyShot 10 is Solo Mode that opens up a new method to work with parts and speed your existing workflows.

KeyShot Solo Mode

Simply put, Solo Mode allows you to isolate one or more parts, which enables you to work on a specific selection without disrupting the hierarchy of any other hidden parts. Solo Mode is a great tool to speed up material applications and editing when working with scenes that have multiple parts or models. Its purpose is to speed existing workflows by making part isolation simple and intuitive. However, previous methods such as Lock Part, Hide All, and the Hide/Show Hotkeys still work.

Toggle Solo Mode On/Off

To toggle Solo Mode on, either use the S-key or right-click your part (in the Scene Tree or Real-time View) and select Solo Mode. This will cause the non-selected parts to be hidden and the selected part or parts to be visible and isolated for editing. To toggle Solo Mode off, simply use the S-key or right-click and select Exit Solo Mode from the pop up menu.

Solo Mode for Multiple Parts

Solo mode can also be used to isolate selections of parts as well. If you want to isolate a selection, you can either highlight the parts you want isolated in the Real-time View or use Ctrl or Shift to select them from the Scene Tree in the Project window. Once selected, be sure to right-click one of the selected parts in the Real-time View and follow the same procedure you would to isolate a single part. Right-click and select Solo Mode from the popup menu or use the S-key. If done correctly, the parts you want to isolate will now be the only visible parts in the Real-time View.

KeyShot 10’s Solo Mode helps speed up your workflow by allowing you to quickly isolate parts or multiple parts. You can learn more about working with models including Hiding and Showing Parts in the KeyShot Manual.

What Can You Create?

We would love to see what you create with this tip. Visit the KeyShot Amazing Shots forum to see what others are creating and share your own work.