Wouldn't it be boring if every model in a 3D graphics scene was just gray? That's why in 3D modeling programs like Blender, textures and materials are commonly used; they add character to the models and make them come alive. It's easy to confuse the two, but there is a difference.

In this article, we'll talk about the differences between a texture and a material in 3D modeling. What are they, why are they important, and when should each be used? Keep reading to find out.

What Are Textures in 3D Modeling?

In real life, most objects have variations in the patterns on their surfaces. Consider the grain in wood, for instance, or the surface of a doughnut. In a 3D modeling program, this can be created with textures.

A texture is a bitmap image, usually in the form of a JPG or PNG, that produces detailed and complex characteristics. This image is projected onto the three-dimensional space of your 3D model. So rather than simply being a two-dimensional image, it gives the appearance of texture on an object, much like in real life.

For example, you can use a photograph of an actual brick wall to add a texture to your building model. Alternatively, you could use a picture of a real piece of metal to give your object a more realistic metallic look. You can find plenty of textures through the online 3D modeling community, and there are also sites where you can get free textures, such as Poly Haven.

You can also modify textures. Blender has a built-in mode called Texture Paint and as its name suggests, this lets you paint textures on your model or make changes to an existing texture. Simply open up the Texture Painting workspace, and from there, you can edit your textures quickly and easily.

Alternatively, you could use an external paint program, such as Photoshop or GIMP. Then, import it to Blender and texture paint it just like any other premade texture.

What Are Materials in 3D Modeling?

No matter what kind of image you are trying to create, from cartoon-like to photorealism, you will probably want to replace its boring gray plastic default material.

Material is what defines the optical properties of an object; namely, its color, dullness, or shininess. Another way to think of a material is a collection of instructions given to a 3D modeling program that describes the appearance of the 3D model. For instance, will it be shiny enough to show a reflection, will it be transparent, and what color variation does it have?

There are additional settings that allow you to customize each material, including shaders, ray tracing, and halo. Shaders determine how the appearance of a material varies in the angle of the light, which may give off a non-shiny or mirror-like look.

In some ways, adding materials and textures to your 3D models can be a big challenge. To get started, we recommend checking out our guide on how to add textures in Blender.

Textures and Materials: What Will You Create?

After reading this, you should have a good idea of the differences between textures and materials in 3D modeling. Both play a role in making a model look more interesting and complex.

Sometimes it can even create a photorealistic effect as seen in the famous Doughnut Tutorial series by Blender Guru. This involves multiple stages from modeling, sculpting, materials, lighting, rendering, UV unwrapping, texture painting, procedural texturing, displacement, compositing, and more.

This write-up is just one piece of the puzzle; there is a lot more to learn in 3D modeling, and there are many tutorials that can help.