Add Menu - Shader

Add menu - Shader

The shader section contains the different shader nodes. The content is different for the sub modes Object, World and Line Style. And it is dependant of the chosen render engine.

Left Eevee, right Cycles and Workbench:

World / Line Art :

We will start with the Eevee shaders, and go through the other menus then.

Eevee

Add Shader

The Add node is used to add two Shaders together.

Mix Shader

The Mix node is used to mix two shaders together. Mixing can be used for material layering, where the Factor input may, for example, be connected to a Blend Weight node.

Diffuse BSDF

Shader Type Object

The Diffuse BSDF node is used to add Lambertian and Oren-Nayar diffuse reflection.

Emission

The Emission node emits light.

Inputs

Outputs

Emission

The Emission shader output can both be plugged into the Surface Input as well as the Volume Input of the Material Output node.

Glass BSDF

A glass shader.

Inputs

Properties

Distribution

The light scattering disribution model on rough surface.

Outputs

BSDF

Standard shader output.

Glossy BSDF

The Glossy BSDF node is used to add reflection with micro facet distribution, used for materials such as metal or mirrors.

Inputs

Properties

Outputs

BSDF

Standard shader output.

Holdout

The Holdout shader node is used to create a “hole” in the image with zero alpha transparency, which is useful for compositing (see alpha channel).

Note that the holdout shader can only create alpha when Transparent is enabled. This can be found in the render settings. Properties > Render > Film > Transparent is enabled. If it is disabled, the holdout shader will be black.

Outputs

Holdout

Standard shader output.

Metallic BSDF

A metallic shader, which gives more realistic results than the glossy node.

Properties

Distribution

The available scatter methods. They all give a slighty differnt result.

Fresnel Type

The fresnel type. Fresnel is a real life effect that adds a mirroring the more the angle diverts from the line of sight. At 90 degrees the mirroring is 100%.

Input with F 82 Tint

Input with Physical Conductor

Thin film subpanel

Output

BSDF

Shader output.

Principled BSDF

The Principled BSDF that combines multiple shader layers into a single easy to use node. It is based on the Disney principled model also known as the “PBR” shader, making it compatible with other software such as Pixar’s Renderman® and Unreal Engine®. Image textures painted or baked from software like Substance Painter® may be directly linked to the corresponding parameters in this shader.

This “Uber” shader includes multiple layers to create a wide variety of materials. The base layer is a user controlled mix between diffuse, metal, subsurface scattering and transmission. On top of that there is a specular layer, sheen layer and clear coat layer.

Inputs

Subsurface Subtab

Mode Christensen-Burley

Christensen-Burley is an approximation to physically-based volume scattering. Gives less blurry results than Cubic and Gaussian functions.

Mode Random Walk

Random Walk Provides the most accurate results for thin and curved objects. This comes at the cost of increased render time or noise for more dense media like skin, but also better geometry detail preservation. Random Walk uses true volumetric scattering inside the mesh, which means that it works best for closed meshes. Overlapping faces and holes in the mesh can cause problems.

Mode Random Walk (Skin)

Random Walk Provides the most accurate results for thin and curved objects. This comes at the cost of increased render time or noise for more dense media like skin, but also better geometry detail preservation. Random Walk uses true volumetric scattering inside the mesh, which means that it works best for closed meshes. Overlapping faces and holes in the mesh can cause problems.

Specular Subtab

Specular Mode

IOR Level

Amount of dielectric specular reflection. Specifies facing (along normal) reflectivity in the most common 0 - 8% range.

Hint. To compute this value for a realistic material with a known index of refraction, you may use this special case of the Fresnel formula: specular=((ior-1)/(ior+1))2/0.08

For example:

water: ior = 1.33, specular = 0.25

glass: ior = 1.5, specular = 0.5

diamond: ior = 2.417, specular = 2.15

Since materials with reflectivity above 8% do exist, the field allows values above 1.

Transmission Subpanel

Weigth

Blend between transmission and other base layers.

Coat subpanel

Extra white specular layer on top of others. This is useful for materials like car paint and the like.

Sheen subpanel

Emission subpanel

Light emission from the surface, like the Emission shader.

Thin Film subpanel

A thin film coating of a material with a normal angle of incidence.

Outputs

BSDF

Standard shader output.

Refraction BSDF

The Refraction BSDF is used to add glossy refraction with sharp or micro facet distribution, used for materials that transmit light. For best results this node should be considered as a building block and not be used on its own, but rather mixed with a glossy node using a Fresnel factor. Otherwise it will give quite dark results at the edges for glossy refraction.

Inputs

Properties

Distribution

Micro facet distribution to use. Sharp results in perfectly sharp refraction, while Beckmann and GGX can use the Roughness input for blurry refraction.

Outputs

BSDF

Standard shader output.

Specular BSDF

Eevee Only

The Specular BSDF combines multiple shader layers into a single easy to use node.

It is similar to the Principled BSDF node but uses the specular workflow instead of the metallic. It has far fewer parameters and supports less features. Both might be merged into one node in the future.

The specular workflow functions by specifying the facing (along normal) reflection color. The result may not be physically plausible because there is no energy conservation.

Inputs

Outputs

BSDF

Standard shader output.

Subsurface Scattering

The Subsurface Scattering node is used to add simple subsurface multiple scattering, for materials such as skin, wax, marble, milk and others. For these materials, rather than light being reflect directly off the surface, it will penetrate the surface and bounce around internally before getting absorbed or leaving the surface at a nearby point.

How far the color scatters on average can be configured per RGB color channel. For example, for skin, red colors scatter further, which gives distinctive red-colored shadows, and a soft appearance.

Properties

Method

Method for rendering subsurface scattering.

Christensen-Burley

Color

Color of the surface, or physically speaking, the probability that light is reflected for each wavelength.

Scale

Global scale factor for the scattering radius.

Radius

Average distance that light scatters below the surface. Higher radius gives a softer appearance, as light bleeds into shadows and through the object. The scattering distance is specified separately for the RGB channels, to render materials such as skin where red light scatters deeper. The X, Y and Z values are mapped to the R, G and B values, respectively.

Normal

Normal used for shading; if nothing is connected the default shading normal is used.

Random Walk

IOR

Refraction value.

Normal

Normal used for shading; if nothing is connected the default shading normal is used.

Random Walk (Skin)

Outputs

BSSRDF

BSSRDF shader output.

Translucent BSDF

The Translucent BSDF is used to add Lambertian diffuse transmission.

Transparent BSDF

The Transparent BSDF is used to add transparency without refraction, passing straight through the surface, as if there were no geometry there. Useful with alpha maps, for example. This shader affects light paths somewhat differently than other BSDFs. Note that only pure white transparent shaders are completely transparent.

Principled Volume

The Principled Volume shader combines all volume shading components into a single easy to use node. Volumes like smoke and fire can be rendered with a single shader node, which includes scattering, absorption and blackbody emission.

Inputs

Outputs

Volume

Standard shader output.

Volume Absorption

The Volume Absorption node allows light to be absorbed as it passes through the volume. Typical usage for this node would be water and colored glass.

Volume Scatter

The Volume Scatter node allows light to be scattered as it passes through the volume. Typical usage would be to add fog to a scene. It can also be used with the Volume Absorption node to create smoke.

Properties

Phase

Phase function for the scattered light.

Henyey-Greenstein: Common for biological tissues and fog.

Fournier-Forand: Suitable for underwater scattering.

Draine: Models interstellar dust.

Rayleigh: For small particles like atmospheric haze.

Mie: For large particles like clouds or mist.

Henyey-Greenstein

Fournier-Forand

Draine

Rayleigh

Mie

Output

Volume

The Volume Shader output must be plugged into the Volume Input of the Material or World Output node.

Volume Coefficients

The Volume Coefficients node models how light interacts with volumetric materials by defining three key physical processes: Absorption, Scattering, and Emission. This node provides fine-grained control over how light is absorbed, redirected, and emitted as it travels through a volume—ideal for simulating effects like smoke, fog, underwater environments, or glowing gases.

Inputs

Absorbtion subpanel

Coefficients

A vector input representing the probability per unit distance that light is absorbed in each color channel (R, G, B) of a vector.

Scatter subpanel

The density of the scatter effect.

Phase

Dropdown to select the scattering phase function.

Henyey-Greenstein: Common for biological tissues and fog.

Fournier-Forand: Suitable for underwater scattering.

Draine: Models interstellar dust.

Rayleigh: For small particles like atmospheric haze.

Mie: For large particles like clouds or mist.

Henyey-Greenstein

Fournier-Forand

Draine

Raileigh

Coefficients

A vector input defining the likelihood of light scattering per unit distance in each color channel. Controls how much light is redirected rather than absorbed.

Mie

Emission subpanel

Coefficients

Controls the look of the scatter effect depending on the direction of the light passing through it. Simulates glowing volumes like fire or plasma.

Output

Volume

The Volume Shader output must be plugged into the Volume Input of the Material or World Output node.

Cycles / Workbench

Hair BSDF

Cycles Only

The Hair BSDF node is used to add shading for Hair.

Inputs

Properties

Outputs

BSDF

Standard shader output.

Principled Hair BSDF

Cycles Only

The Principled Hair BSDF is a physically-based, easy-to-use shader for rendering hair and fur.

Properties

Scattering Mode

Chiang Model versus Huang Model

There are two scattering models available. Chiang and Huang. Chiang is the older model, with a less accurate result. Huang the newer model. The available options differs from model to model.

Color Parametrization

The shader provides three different ways, or parametrizations, to color the hair strands. Direct coloring, Melanin concentration and Absorption coefficient. They have some different settings and inputs.

Inputs

Huang - Absorption coefficient

Specifies the attenuation coefficient sa, as applied by the Beer-Lambert law. This mode is intended mainly for technical users who want to use coefficients from the literature without any sort of conversion.

Huang - Melanin concentration

This mode defines the color as the quantity and ratio of the pigments which are commonly found in hair and fur, eumelanin (prevalent in brown-black hair) and pheomelanin (red hair). The quantity is specified in the Melanin input, and the ratio between them in Melanin Redness. Increasing concentrations darken the hair (the following are with Melanin Redness 1):

White (Melanin 0), Blonde (Melanin 0.25), Reddish (Melanin 0.5), Brown (Melanin 0.75), Black (Melanin 1)

Additionally, the Tint inputs allows to dye the hair with the desired color.

Huang - Direct Coloring

Choose the desired RGB color and the shader will approximate the necessary absorption coefficient (below).

Chiang - Absorption coefficient

Specifies the attenuation coefficient sa, as applied by the Beer-Lambert law. This mode is intended mainly for technical users who want to use coefficients from the literature without any sort of conversion.

Chiang - Melanin concentration

This mode defines the color as the quantity and ratio of the pigments which are commonly found in hair and fur, eumelanin (prevalent in brown-black hair) and pheomelanin (red hair). The quantity is specified in the Melanin input, and the ratio between them in Melanin Redness. Increasing concentrations darken the hair (the following are with Melanin Redness 1):

White (Melanin 0), Blonde (Melanin 0.25), Reddish (Melanin 0.5), Brown (Melanin 0.75), Black (Melanin 1)

Additionally, the Tint inputs allows to dye the hair with the desired color.

Chiang - Direct Coloring

Choose the desired RGB color and the shader will approximate the necessary absorption coefficient (below).

Outputs

BSDF

Standard shader output.

Sheen BSDF

Cycles Only

The Sheen BSDF is used to add reflection to materials such as cloth. It is meant to be used together with other shaders (such as a Diffuse Shader) and is not particularly useful on its own.

Inputs

Properties

Distribution

The distribution algorithm. Akishikmin is the legacy model. Microfiber the modern approach.

Outputs

BSDF

Standard shader output.

Toon BSDF

Cycles Only

The Toon BSDF is used to create Diffuse and Glossy materials with cartoon light effects.

Inputs

Properties

Component

Outputs

BSDF

Standard shader output.

World

Background

Shader Type World

The Background shader node is used to add background light emission.