Decal Parameters

Decal parameters are available on the Appearances tab in the Palette when a decal is selected in the Appearances tree.

The parameters are organized onto three subtabs: General, Mapping, and Appearances.

General

Decal Name Specifies a name for the decal.

To replace the selected decal image file with a different one, click .
Visible Shows the decal in the model. Clear the option to hide the decal.
Show Decal Texture Shows the image represented on the decal. Clear the option to overwrite the image in white, to use it as a stencil.

Decal Mask Type

None Does not use any alpha masking.
Embedded (Supported only for .png and .tif file formats.) Uses the alpha channel embedded in the decal image to mask the decal. If the image file does not have an alpha channel, then no masking is applied.
Image File Specifies a separate image file to mask the decal image. Mask image files use black areas as alpha and white areas as opaque.
  • Click to browse for the mask image file.
  • Select Invert Mask to reverse the use of black and white in the mask image file (use white areas as alpha and black areas as opaque).
Brightness as Opacity Makes dark regions of the mask transparent. The closer to black the pixels are, the more transparent that area of the mask becomes.

Additional Controls

Auto-Update Monitors the decal image file and reloads it when changes are detected.
Update Decal Texture Manually triggers a reload of the decal image file.
Move Forward (For use when multiple, overlapping decals are present in the model.) Moves the selected decal up in the order.

For example, if there are three overlapping decals on a surface and the selected decal is at the bottom, click Move Forward two times to move it to the top.
Move Backward (For use when multiple, overlapping decals are present in the model.) Moves the selected decal down in the order.

Mapping

Displays various mapping controls for planar-mapped decals.
  • Decals that you add in Visualize are always planar mapped. No other mapping modes are available.
  • Decals that you import from SOLIDWORKS are displayed correctly on the model and use the mapping parameters as originally defined in SOLIDWORKS. However, for Cylindrical, Spherical, and UV/Label mapped decals, the mapping controls in Visualize are hidden and the following message appears:
    • Decal Mapping Mode cannot be adjusted in Visualize.

Mapping Mode: Planar

Decal Depth Specifies how deep beyond the surface the decal penetrates.
Decal Width Specifies the width of the decal in meters.
Decal Height Specifies the height of the decal in meters.
Multiple Part Decal Specifies that the decal spans multiple parts in the model.
Full Manipulator Lets you completely manipulate the projection direction of planar-mapped decals, independent of the normal of the surface under the center of the decal.
Project from Current Ortho Camera Projects the decal from the active camera, provided the active camera is an orthographic camera.

Appearances

The default appearance of a decal is a white matte surface finish. You can change the look of a decal's surface finish by adding an appearance on top of the decal.

For example, you can add an appearance that gives the decal a glossy reflective finish.

To add an appearance to a decal, do one of the following:

  • In the Palette, in the tree on the Appearances tab, select a decal. Then on the Appearance subtab, click Assign Appearance and select from the list of appearances currently in the project.
  • Drag an appearance from the Appearances list in the project, or from the File Libraries tab, and drop it on a decal in the viewport.
Decal Appearance Lets you select an appearance from a list of appearances currently in the project. Click Assign Appearance to access the list, and then double-click an appearance to add to the decal.
The appearance is added to the decal, and is listed in place of the Assign Appearance button. For example:

These tools are available to edit or delete the decal appearance:
Edit Decal Appearance
Delete Decal Appearance
Enable Decal Appearance Toggles the appearance on and off so you can compare how the decal looks with and without the appearance.