This video shows how to create a cement material using layers and masks in InstaMAT. You will learn how to layer textures to make a cement material using InstaMAT. The final render was done in InstaMAT.
Base
Start by making a Material Layering project
In the library, search for a cement material and apply it to the mesh
Customize
Select the cement material to open the parameters
Change the color
Increase the grunge and the cavity dirt
Increase the height range
Change the seed to see a different pattern being applied
Experiment with the other parameters as desired
Search for dirt in the library and add a dirt material on top of the base layer
Select this new material and make changes to the parameters
Under the layers channel, use the blend offset to mix the two materials together [stack of paper]
The blend softness feathers the edges and the blend contrast changes the contrast between the blended materials
Under the add filter menu, choose color match and for the target mode, choose previous layer base color – this will use the base material to choose a complimentary color for the dirt
Custom Layer
You can also make your own custom layer by adding a multi-channel layer
Under the layer channels, make sure metalness is turned off since it won’t be needed
Changing the blend mode to default means that you can just overlay this layer’s material rather than use it as a regular height map like I did with the dirt layer
Change the color to a dark blue and decrease the saturation
Double-click on the layer and rename it
Increase the roughness
Add a mesh projected mask from the mask menu
Open the image library and choose a grunge texture
Select the material and in the layer channels, decrease the height to zero – this means that the grunge texture will have no height information
*Tip: If you select a layer and use the S-key, you can solo that layer
You also have access to parameters that you can change for the grunge texture
Use CTRL + D to duplicate this dark dirt layer and rename the new layer to cracks
Open the mask and search for a cracks texture
Back on the layer, change the color to a lighter blue and decrease the saturation
You also have access to parameters that you can change for the cracks texture
Use CTRL + D to duplicate this layer and rename the new layer to green
Open the mask and search for a grunge texture [eroded moisture]
Back on the layer, change the color to a green-yellow and change the saturation and value
You also have access to parameters that you can change for the grunge texture
To control these three layers at the same time, select them all and add a new layer group – renaming it appropriately
Change the blending mode and decrease the opacity
Exposing Parameters
You have the ability to expose parameters of the material so they can be adjusted when used on other projects
Select the second layer and make sure you have the element layer panel open
Choose a parameter (such as dirt level), right-click and choose expose as input parameter
If you open the layering project editor, notice you now have a parameter listed
You can expose whatever parameters you choose
Saving & Exporting
Give the material a name and save it
Select the plus button at the top and choose element graph
You can now drag-and-drop the material you just made into the graph
If you right-click on the material node, you can choose preview as 3D material
If you select the material node, you can now change the exposed parameters
If you need to export the texture maps, go back to your original material, then go to the file menu and choose export image and data outputs
You will then see a dialog box where you can choose the folder location, file name, file format, etc.