Partial Shaders (FX6) Files

Overview

Partial shaders allow you to save and load specific branches of the shader tree. For example, you can save all of the nodes and settings coming off of the Specular_Color and Specular_Value inputs as an FX6 file. You can then load that file to apply the specular settings without disturbing any nodes and inputs.

Saving Partial Shaders

To save an FX6 file:

With your desired material selected, click the "Save Partial Shader (FX6)" button.
Choose a file name to save under. The default directory for FX6 shaders is Runtime:Python:PoseWorks:ShaderSpider:FX.
Select the node input branches to include in the preset and hit OK.

Some things to keep in mind:

If there are no nodes branching off of an input that you're including, the input branch will be preserved when the partial shader is loaded. You can use this to great advantage. For example: I have Victoria 3 with no textures applied and a tanned skin color. If I save a partial shader ("Diffuse_Color" only), I can apply my partial shader to a fully mapped V3's "Skin" materials. The maps will be preserved, but V3 will still get her tan. This is a very handy for making skin tone changes.

Loading Partial Shaders

To load an FX6 file:

Click the "Load Partial Shader (FX6)" wacro button.
Locate the partial shader file you wish to load and hit OK.
Use the Material Selection window to pick which materials the partial shader will be applied to, and hit OK.

Some things to keep in mind:

Any nodes attached to an input that a partial shader wants to build off of will be detached.
All detached nodes will be deleted after a partial shader is loaded.

Sample Partial Shaders

Several sample effects have been included to play with. You can find them in Runtime:Python:PoseWorks:ShaderSpider:FX (the default directory).

Distributing Partial Shaders

Go wild--you made them, you can distribute them as you wish. It's a great way to swap effects with other users. See the Content Developer's Guide for more guidance on how to share these files.