Name

The shader’s name. Enter any name you like, or leave the default.

Minimum/Maximum

Minimum/maximum points on the gradient to evaluate for color.

Show Alpha

Displays the alpha channel in the gradient control if you have RGB selected. Deselect this option if you want to display only RGB values.

RGB

Displays only the RGB values in the gradient control if Show Alpha is off.

Alpha

Displays only the Alpha values in the gradient control.

Gradient Control

The gradient slider is where you create and adjust the gradient. The bar displays the gradient left-to-right from beginning (0.00) to end (1.00).

Square markers on the bottom of the gradient bar are color markers. You can use up to 8 color markers, each with its own color. Clicking on the gradient bar inserts a color marker at the click-point. By default, the new marker assumes the color of that point in the gradient. To delete a color marker, right-click it and choose Delete marker from the menu.

A round marker on the top of the gradient bar appears between each pair of color markers, indicating the mid-point in the blend between those two colors. Moving the round marker closer to either color marker causes less of that color, and more of the other, to appear in that “sub-gradient”. The net effect is a sharper blend and a larger portion of the dominant color.

Color

Controls the R, G, B, and alpha values for the selected color marker.

Pos

Controls the position of markers on the gradient:

Color Markers: If a color marker is selected, the Pos value indicates its position, on a scale of 0.00-1.00, within the entire gradient.

Interpolation Markers: If an interpolation marker is selected, the Pos value indicates its position, on a scale of 0.00-1.00, between its associated pair of color markers.

Cubic/Linear

Switches between linear and cubic interpolation of the gradient. Cubic interpolation results in a smoother transition between alpha values, while linear interpolation results in sharper transitions.

Black/White

Loads a preset using black and white values in the gradient control.

Flame

Loads a preset using a color spectrum going from blue to yellow, orange, and then black in the gradient control.

Smoke

Loads a preset using only white and the alpha channel in the gradient control.

Key All RGB/Alpha Markers

Keys all current RGB or Alpha marker values on the gradient control at this frame.

Remove All RGB/Alpha Keys

Removes all keys on RGB or Alpha markers.

Reset Gradient

Removes all keys on to the RGB and Alpha markers, puts the markers back in their original positions, and disconnects all shaders that are attached to gradient shader parameters.