---
title: "Shader Properties"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XSLASPLINE-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html"
section_path: "Material Manager > Classic Materials > Classic material > Channel Shaders > Spline Shader > Using the Spline shader"
element_id: "XSLASPLINE"
group_id: "ID_SHADERPROPERTIES"
description: "Drag & drop the spline to be used into this box. This can be a spline primitive or a standard spline. The spline's coordinate system plays a crucial part …"
---

## Shader Properties

![Image: 004449.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/004449.jpg)\
1. Background Texture; 2. Line Texture; 3. Fill texture; 4. Line Width; 5. Smooth Width; 6. Caps.

### Spline

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_OBJECT`

Drag & drop the spline to be used into this box. This can be a spline primitive or a standard spline. The spline's coordinate system plays a crucial part in the projection of the spline — see Plane.

### Background Texture

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_BACKGROUND_COLOR`

### Line Texture

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_LINE_COLOR`

### Fill Texture

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_FILLET_COLOR`

These settings specify the texture used for the background, line and fill. Close the spline to prevent unusual fill results.

If you want to define a texture here, the **Fill** and **Use Fill Color** options must first be enabled.

### X Offset

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_X_OFFSET` · Range: [-100000..100000%]

### Y Offset

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_Y_OFFSET` · Range: [-100000..100000%]

### X Scale

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_X_SCALE` · Range: [-100000..100000%]

### Y Scale

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_Y_SCALE` · Range: [-100000..100000%]

These parameters move and scale the projected spline in the **X** and **Y** directions. Use negative Scale values to mirror the spline projection.

### Plane

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_USE_PLANE`

Defines which plane in the spline's coordinate system is used for the projection. For spline primitives, choose the XY plane.

### Single Pixel

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_SINGLE_PIXEL_WIDTH`

Enable this option to set the line's thickness to one pixel (the **Line Width** and **Smooth Width** options will then be disabled). If the lines seem jagged, in the Render Settings, on the Antialiasing tab, set **Antialiasing** to Best. (Textures are not smoothed in the Geometry antialiasing mode).

### Line Width

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_LINE_WIDTH` · Range: [0..10000%]

### Smooth Width

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_SMOOTH_WIDTH` · Range: [0..10000%]

These settings will only be available if **Single Pixel** is disabled. The Line Width defines the line's thickness, Smooth Width applies a soft edge to the line unless set to 0%.

### Caps

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_HAS_CAPS`

This option does two things. First, it defines whether the ends have a semicircular cap (option enabled) or no cap (option disabled). Second, if enabled, it prevents the artifacts shown below from appearing.

![Image: 004450.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/004450.jpg)\
Caps with Smooth Width disabled.

### Fill

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_FILL`

### Use Fill Color

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_FILL_COLOR`

To fill areas inside the spline, enable the Fill option. If the Use Fill Color option is enabled, the Fill Color is used to fill the spline, otherwise the Line Color is used.

### Bump Width

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_BUMP_WIDTH` · Range: [0..10000%]

![Image: 004451.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/004451.jpg)\
From top to bottom: Increasing Bump Width value.

Defines the width of the bump effect around the lines. This is only relevant if you enable the Spline shader in the Bump channel.

### Text Spline

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_TEXT`

### Text

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_TEXT_TEXT`

### Font

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_TEXT_FONT`

### Align

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_TEXT_ALIGN`

### Height

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_TEXT_HEIGHT` · Range: [-∞..+∞m]

### H Spacing

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_TEXT_HSPACING` · Range: [-∞..+∞m]

### V Spacing

Parameter ID: `SLA_SPLINE_TEXT_VSPACING` · Range: [-∞..+∞m]

Here you can enter text that will be projected onto the texture. Set Plane to XY (the default plane for spline primitives). See [Text Spline](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/OSPLINETEXT.html.md).

# Using the Spline shader

Projecting the spline onto an object can seem tricky at first. Proceed as follows.

1. Ensure the spline is smaller than the object. Drag & drop the spline into the Spline box in the **Attribute Manager** (if the box is ghosted, disable the Text Spline option).
2. Set **Plane** to the plane in which the spline lies or mostly lies (this is XY for spline primitives by default). Enable Fill and choose background texture and line texture colors that will make the spline easy to see on the object.
3. Fine-tune the position and size using **X Offset**, **Y Offset**, **X Scale** and **Y Scale**.