RenderMan shading

VEX/RSL translations

The following table shows the equivalent mapping values for VEX and RSL:

Syntax and function differences:

Using materials

How to assign assign materials and use the library of built-in materials.
Material palette

Lets you assign materials to objects and primitives interactively.
Overriding material parameters and properties

How to change material parameters on individual objects or pieces of geometry.
OpenGL Shaders

How to customize how materials appear in the OpenGL viewport.
Material code caching

You can pre-compile a material as a digital asset to speed up shader compilation at render time.

Working with textures

How to use textures to change the look of materials.
Modulating texture values

How to use utility VOPs to modify textures in your materials.
Adding detail with normal, bump, and displacement mapping
Converting image files
Ptex
Baking textures

Generates a texture map from one or more objects' rendered appearance.

Building materials

The basics of how to create, combine, and modify materials in Houdini.
Layering shaders

How to mix and layer two or more materials together to create a combined material.
Material parameters

How to build a parameter/input interface for your custom material.
Working with VOPs

Tips for working with shaders in the VOP network.

Material exports

How to export extra information from the shader and save it as part of the rendered image.
Absorption and nested dielectrics

Automatically "scoop out" geometry with one shader from inside overlapping geometry with another shader, allowing different shading properties inside.
Material stylesheets

Material stylesheets are a highly technical solution for assigning materials and overriding material parameters on packed geometry.
Loops and conditionals in VOPs

How to create looping and conditional blocks of nodes in VOP networks.
Writing a custom viewport shader in GLSL

Other renderers