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UVWGens

In this chapter, we'll cover important utilities about texturing - UVW coordinate generators, or, for short, UVWGens. Generally, the UVW data is stored in the geometry, in GeomStaticMesh::map_channels. It has the following format:

Last updated 9 April 2026

Introduction

Python

<code data-v-c2b1f83f=""># map_channels describe the UVW coordinates used to map a texture to the geometry surface.geometry.map_channels = [ [ # channel index 1, # List of UVW coordinates. # The W coordinate has to be set (0.0 in this case) even when performing 2D texturing. vray.VectorList( vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 1.0, 0.0) ), # List of indices from the UVW list. # Each three consecutive indices are used for a single triangle. # They correspond directly to the vertex indices in the 'faces' array. vray.IntList( 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2 ) ]]</code>

C++

<code data-v-c2b1f83f="">// The W coordinate has to be set (0.0 in this case) even when performing 2D texturing.Vector uvwCoords[] = { Vector(0.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(1.0, 1.0, 0.0)};// Each three consecutive indices are used for one triangle. // They correspond directly to the vertex indices in the 'faces' array.int uvwIndices[] = { 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2};ValueList list;list.push_back(Value(1)); // channel indexlist.push_back(Value(uvwCoords)); // list of UVW coordinateslist.push_back(Value(uvwIndices)); // list of indices from the UVW list// map_channels describe the UVW coordinates used to map a texture to the geometry surfaceValueList channels;channels.push_back(Value(list));geometry.set_map_channels(channels);</code>

C#.NET

<code data-v-c2b1f83f="">List<object> channels = new List<object>();channels.Add(new List<object> { // Channel index. 1, // List of UVW coordinates. // The W coordinate has to be set (0.0 in this case) even when performing 2D texturing. new Vector[] { new Vector(0.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), new Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(1.0, 1.0, 0.0) }, // List of indices from the UVW list. // Each three consecutive indices are used for one triangle. // They correspond directly to the vertex indices in the 'faces' array. new int[] { 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2 }});// MapChannels describe the UVW coordinates used to map a texture to the geometry surface.geometry.MapChannels = channels;</code>

Node.js

<code data-v-c2b1f83f="">// The W coordinate has to be set (0.0 in this case) even when performing 2D texturing. var uvwCoords = vray.VectorList( vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 1.0, 0.0));// Each three consecutive indices are used for one triangle. // They correspond directly to the vertex indices in the 'faces' array.var uvwIndices = vray.IntList( 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 2); var map_channel = vray.List();map_channel.push(1); // channel indexmap_channel.push(uvwCoords); // list of UVW coordinatesmap_channel.push(uvwIndices); // list of indices from the UVW list// map_channels describe the UVW coordinates used to map a texture to the geometry surface.var channels = vray.List();channels.push(map_channel);geometry.map_channels = channels;</code>

UVWGenChannel

Modifier for UVW data coming from the geometry source. The main parameter is uvw_channel - the index of the mapping channel data to use (i.e. GeomStaticMesh::map_channels). The default is 1, as in 3dsMax, where indexing starts from 1, but in your application, this may be 0 or something else. If you set an index of -1, V-Ray will take the first available channel. This plugin also has transform, wrap, and crop parameters, as well as the option to get UVW data from another UVWGen plugin.

Parameters

uvw_transform - Initial transformation on the uvw coordinates, before mirror, crop etc
uvw_transform_tex - Same as uvw_transform, but receives a texture with transformations.
tex_transform - Final transformation on the resulting uvw coordinates, after mirror, crop etc
nsamples - Number of uvw transform samples
wrap_u/v/w - 0 - no wrapping, 1 - wrap, 2 - mirror tile
crop_u/v/w - 1 to crop in the u/v/w-direction
coverage - Coverage
uvw_coords - The uvw coordinates for the specified channel at the current shading point
wrap_mode - Wrap mode (0 - wrap on 0.5 boundary; 1 - wrap on integer boundary)
duvw_scale - Additional scale factor for the texture derivatives
uvw_channel - Described above
uvwgen - Optional UVWGen from which the initial uvw coordinates will be taken, instead of the surface point
use_double_sided_mode - If this is true then we will use uvw_channel for front-side and uvw_channel + 1 for back-side contexts. This is primarily for V-Ray for SketchUp.

Examples

With the help of TexUVW we can visualize the different UVW spaces we can create using the UVW generators. Here's the code we use:

Python

C++

C#.NET

Node.js

UVWGenEnvironment

Used to map spherical, cube, etc., textures on the environment color slot or on dome lights.

Parameters

uvw_matrix - Transformation of the input directions
uvw_transform - Transformation of the resulting UVW coordinates
mapping_type - One of "angular", "cubic", "spherical", "mirror_ball", "screen", "max_spherical", "spherical_vray", "max_cylindrical" or "max_shrink_wrap"
wrap_u/v/w - 0 - no wrapping, 1 - wrap, 2 - mirror tile
crop_u/v/w - 1 to crop in the u/v/w-direction
duvw_scale - Additional scale factor for the texture derivatives
ground_on -
ground_position - Normal vector of the ground plane
ground_radius - Radius of the ground circle

Example

In this example, we'll create a textured dome light with spherical mapping of the UVWGen:

Python

<code data-v-c2b1f83f=""># The UVWGenEnvironment allows spherical, cube, etc. textures to be mapped on the environment color slot or dome lights.uvwgen = renderer.classes.UVWGenEnvironment()# Specify the type and shape of the texture.uvwgen.mapping_type = 'spherical'# Specify transformation of the input directions.uvwgen.uvw_matrix = vray.Matrix( vray.Vector(1, 0, 0), vray.Vector(0, 0, 1), vray.Vector(0, -1, 0))uvwgen.ground_on = 1bitmap = renderer.classes.BitmapBuffer()# unlike JPG files, HDR files are linearbitmap.transfer_function = 0bitmap.file = os.path.join(SCENE_PATH, 'assets', 'Sea_D.hdr')texture = renderer.classes.TexBitmap()# Specify UVW generator for the texture.texture.uvwgen = uvwgen# Specify the bitmap that the texture will be using.texture.bitmap = bitmaplight = renderer.classes.LightDome()# Switches between a hemispherical or (full) spherical shape of the light.# Possible values are: True (Sphere), False (Hemisphere)light.dome_spherical = True# Specify the light texture.light.dome_tex = texture# Enable the use of a light texture.# If "use_dome_tex = False" the 'color' of the light will be used instead.light.use_dome_tex = True</code>

C++

<code data-v-c2b1f83f="">// The UVWGenEnvironment allows spherical, cube, etc. textures to be mapped on the environment color slot or dome lights.UVWGenEnvironment uvwgen = renderer.newPlugin<UVWGenEnvironment>();// Specify the type and shape of the texture.uvwgen.set_mapping_type("spherical");// Specify transformation of the input directions.uvwgen.set_uvw_matrix( Matrix( Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0)));uvwgen.set_ground_on(1);BitmapBuffer bitmap = renderer.newPlugin<BitmapBuffer>();// unlike JPG files, HDR files are linearbitmap.set_transfer_function(0);bitmap.set_file("assets" PATH_DELIMITER "Sea_D.hdr");TexBitmap texture = renderer.newPlugin<TexBitmap>();// Specify UVW generator for the texture.texture.set_uvwgen(uvwgen);// Specify the bitmap that the texture will be using.texture.set_bitmap(bitmap);LightDome light = renderer.newPlugin<LightDome>();// Switches between a hemispherical or (full) spherical shape of the light.// Possible values are: true (Sphere), false (Hemisphere) - defaultlight.set_dome_spherical(true);// Specify the light texture.light.set_dome_tex(texture);// Enable the use of a light texture.// If "use_dome_tex = false" the 'color' of the light will be used instead.light.set_use_dome_tex(true);</code>

C#.NET

<code data-v-c2b1f83f="">// The UVWGenEnvironment allows spherical, cube, etc. textures to be mapped on the environment color slot or dome lights.UVWGenEnvironment uvwgen = renderer.NewPlugin<UVWGenEnvironment>();// Specify the type and shape of the texture.uvwgen.MappingType = "spherical";// Specify transformation of the input directions.uvwgen.UvwMatrix = new Matrix( new Vector(1, 0, 0), new Vector(0, 0, 1), new Vector(0, -1, 0));uvwgen.GroundOn = 1;BitmapBuffer bitmap = renderer.NewPlugin<BitmapBuffer>();// unlike JPG files, HDR files are linearbitmap.TransferFunction = 0;bitmap.File = Path.Combine("assets", "Sea_D.hdr");TexBitmap texture = renderer.NewPlugin<TexBitmap>();// Specify UVW generator for the texture.texture.Uvwgen = uvwgen;// Specify the bitmap that the texture will be using.texture.Bitmap = bitmap;LightDome light = renderer.NewPlugin<LightDome>();// Switches between a hemispherical or (full) spherical shape of the light.// Possible values are: true (Sphere), false (Hemisphere)light.DomeSpherical = true;// Specify the light texture.light.DomeTex = texture;// Enable the use of a light texture.// If "use_dome_tex = False" the 'color' of the light will be used instead.light.UseDomeTex = true;</code>

Node.js

<code data-v-c2b1f83f="">// The UVWGenEnvironment allows spherical, cube, etc. textures to be mapped on the environment color slot or dome lights.var uvwgen = renderer.classes.UVWGenEnvironment();// Specify transformation of the input directions.uvwgen.uvw_matrix = vray.Matrix( vray.Vector(1, 0, 0), vray.Vector(0, 0, 1), vray.Vector(0, -1, 0));// Specify the type and shape of the texture.uvwgen.mapping_type = "spherical";uvwgen.ground_on = 1;var bitmap = renderer.classes.BitmapBuffer();// unlike JPG files, HDR files are linearbitmap.transfer_function = 0;bitmap.file = path.join(SCENE_PATH, "assets", "Sea_D.hdr");var texture = renderer.classes.TexBitmap();// Specify UVW generator for the texture.texture.uvwgen = uvwgen;// Specify the bitmap that the texture will be using.texture.bitmap = bitmap;var light = renderer.classes.LightDome();// Switches between a hemispherical or (full) spherical shape of the light.// Possible values are: true (Sphere), false (Hemisphere)light.dome_spherical = true;// Specify the light texture.light.dome_tex = texture;// Enable the use of a light texture.// If "use_dome_tex = false" the 'color' of the light will be used instead.light.use_dome_tex = true;</code>

UVWGenExplicit

Define explicit UVW data from a texture.

Parameters

u - the U input of floats
v - the V input of floats
w - the W input of floats
uvw - input as UVW texture

UVWGenMayaPlace2dTexture

Similar to UVWGenChannel, but with more options.

Parameters

uvw_channel_tex - Used when more than one mesh has UV linking specified for this 2d placement. If present will override uvw_channel.
uvwgen - Optional UVWGen from which the initial uvw coordinates will be taken, instead of the surface point
nsamples - The number of parameter samples to take for motion blur. 0 means the global value. 1 means motion blur should be disabled for this plugin.
uv_set_name - The name of the uv channel that should be used.

UVWGenObject

This generator transforms world-space coordinates into object space.

Parameters

uvw_transform - Initial transformation on the uvw coordinates
duvw_scale - Additional scale factor for the texture derivatives

UVWGenPlanarWorld

This generator returns the UVW coordinates in world space.

Parameters

uvw_transform - Initial transformation on the uvw coordinates, before mirror, crop etc
uvw_transform_tex - TextureTransform
tex_transform - Final transformation on the resulting uvw coordinates, after mirror, crop etc
nsamples - Number of uvw transform samples
wrap_u/v/w - 0 - no wrapping, 1 - wrap, 2 - mirror tile
crop_u/v/w - 1 to crop in the u/v/w-direction
coverage - Coverage
uvw_coords - The uvw coordinates for the specified channel at the current shading point
wrap_mode - Wrap mode (0 - wrap on 0.5 boundary; 1 - wrap on integer boundary
duvw_scale - Additional scale factor for the texture derivatives

Introduction

Python

C++

C#.NET

Node.js

UVWGenChannel

Parameters

Examples

Python

C++

C#.NET

Node.js

UVWGenEnvironment

Parameters

Example

Python

C++

C#.NET

Node.js

UVWGenExplicit

Parameters

UVWGenMayaPlace2dTexture

Parameters

UVWGenObject

Parameters

UVWGenPlanarWorld

Parameters

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