Image Texture Node

../../../_images/render_shader-nodes_textures_image_node.png

Image Texture Node.

The Image Texture is used to add an image file as a texture.

Inputs

Vector
Texture coordinate for texture look-up. If this socket is left unconnected, UV coordinates from the active UV render layer are used.

Properties

Image Data-Block
Image data-block used as the image source. Currently not all images supported by Blender can be used by Cycles. In particular, generated, packed images or animations are not supported currently.
Color Space
Type of data that the image contains, either Color or Non-Color Data. For most color textures the default of Color should be used, but in case of e.g. a bump or alpha map, the pixel values should be interpreted as Non-Color Data, to avoid doing any unwanted color space conversions.
Interpolation

Method to scale images up or down for rendering.

Linear
Regular quality interpolation.
Cubic
Smoother, better quality interpolation. For bump maps this should be used to get best results.
Closest
No interpolation, use only closest pixel for rendering pixel art.
Smart Cycles Only
Only for Open Shading Language. Use cubic interpolation when scaling up and linear when scaling down, for a better performance and sharpness.
Projection

Projection to use for mapping the textures.

Flat
Uses the XY coordinates for mapping.
Box

Maps the image to the six sides of a virtual box, based on the normal, using XY, YZ and XYZ coordinates depending on the side.

Blend
For Box mapping, the amount to blend between sides of the box, to get rid of sharp transitions between the different sides. Blending is useful to map a procedural-like image texture pattern seamlessly on a model. 0.0 gives no blending; higher values give a smoother transition.
Sphere
Sphere mapping is the best type for mapping a sphere, and it is perfect for making planets and similar objects. It is often very useful for creating organic objects.
Tube
Maps the texture around an object like a label on a bottle. The texture is therefore more stretched on the cylinder. This mapping is of course very good for making the label on a bottle, or assigning stickers to rounded objects. However, this is not a cylindrical mapping so the ends of the cylinder are undefined.
Extension

Extension defines how the image is extrapolated past the original bounds:

Repeat
Will repeat the image horizontally and vertically giving tiled-looking result.
Extend
Will extend the image by repeating pixels on its edges.
Clip
Clip to the original image size and set all the exterior pixels values to transparent black.

Outputs

Color
RGB color from image. If the image has alpha, the color is premultiplied with alpha if the Alpha output is used, and unpremultiplied or straight if the Alpha output is not used.
Alpha
Alpha channel from image.

Examples

../../../_images/render_shader-nodes_textures_image_example.jpg

Image texture from GoodTextures.com.