[Huawei Developers] Jack Wu Shenzhen:
In computer graphics, material is a property that is added to a 3D model and defines how it interacts with light. A material model and a set of control parameters define the object surface. The figures below illustrate the effect of applying materials.

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After adding different textures, the scene on the right looks far more realistic, and this is why they have become widely adopted in gaming, architecture, design, and many other sectors.

That is not to say creating and applying materials is a straightforward process. Creating texture maps can be time-consuming and expensive.

Three solutions are available for such issues.

First, utilize a deep learning network to generate physically based rendering (PBR) texture maps with ease, for creating premium materials efficiently.

Second, share texture maps across different projects and renderers, and standardize the experience and material creation specifications of technical artists into data that complies with PBR standards.

Third, leverage the material generation capability of HMS Core 3D Modeling Kit to build up a vast library of materials. Such a library will provide open access to a wealth of texture maps, saving time and effort.

Let's check out the last solution in detail.

Material Generation

In just a click, this capability converts RGB images into five PBR texture maps — diffuse map, normal map, specular map, roughness map, and height map. The capability supports a range of materials, ranging from concrete, marble, rock, gravel, brick, gypsum, clay, metal, wood, bark, leather, fabric, paint, plastic, and synthetic material, and can output texture maps with a resolution of 1K to 8K.

Material Library: Vast, Hi-Res, and Convenient

3D Modeling Kit offers a rich and efficient material library on a solid basis of its powerful material generation capability. This library not only supports filtering of materials by application scenario and type, as well as providing PBR texture maps, but also allows materials to be queried, previewed, and downloaded.

To access this library, enable 3D Modeling Kit in HUAWEI AppGallery Connect: go to My projects, select the desired project and app, click Manage APIs, and toggle on the switch for 3D Modeling Kit. Then, go to Build > 3D Modeling Kit and click Material library.

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1. Abundant materials on hand

The library homepage provides search and filter functions, allowing you to easily find the material you want. Simply enter a material name into the search box and then click Search to get it.

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You can also add filters (resolution and application scenario) to obtain the desired materials.

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Want to sort query results? The library allows you to sort them by default order, upload time, or previews.

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2. Previewing 1K to 4K texture maps

Many 3D models, such as walls, buildings, and wooden objects, require materials to display their structures and expected effects. In the image below, the rendered model looks much more vivid after hi-res texture maps are applied to it.

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Click an image for a material in the library to preview how this material appears on a sphere, cube, or flat plane. All the three models can be rotated 360°, showing every detail of the material.

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3. Archiving a collection of downloadable materials

The library has a collection of 32,066 materials classified into 16 types. To download a material, just click Download Now in the lower right corner of the preview window, and a ZIP package containing JPG texture maps will be downloaded. The texture maps can be used directly. The library will be updated regularly to satisfy developer needs.

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For more information about the library, check out here.