Fur

Create Fur by using the fur icon in the Redshift shelf or the "Fur" button found in the Redshift tab of the Create menu. If you have a mesh selected when creating Fur from the shelf it will automatically parent the fur to the mesh, set the mesh as the Fur's Source Object, and assign a new Principled Hair material to the fur.

Source Object

Connect an object here to generate fur strands across the surface of the mesh.

Surface Offset

Moves the fur strand away from the surface of the source object along the face normal.

Enable Instancing

When checked, the fur mesh can be used with instances. This should be used to save memory when the same fur object appears multiple times in the scene.

Density

Sets the number of fur strands per square unit across the surface of the mesh. Higher values produce more fur. Since density is based on the area the strand count scales naturally across differently sized meshes, producing consistent results.

Length

Controls the base length of each strand in scene units.

Thickness

Controls the base thickness (radius) of each strand in scene units.

Taper

Controls how much the fur strand thins at its tip. Each strand starts off with a set thickness at the root and higher Taper values shrink the thickness at the tip.

At the highest value the tip shrinks all the way down to a thickness of 0, when the Taper is set half way the tip shrinks the strand down to half the base thickness, and a Taper of 0 results in a uniformly thick strand with no taper. The taper is linearly transitioned along the full length of the strand.

Auto Segments

When enabled, the number of segments per-strand is controlled by the Bend and Curl values. This lets you adjust the Bend and Curl without having to adjust the number of segments each time, making it easier to use.

When disabled, the number of segments is controlled directly by the Curve Segments parameter.

Curve Segments

Controls the number of segments per-strand curve. Higher segments result in smoother and more rounded arcs on fur that is bent or curled. Find a balance between enough segments that the bend and curl can be adequately seen without going overboard. Segments increase render time and this compounds with extremely dense fur so you want to keep this value as low as possible without sacrificing the look.

Bend

Controls how much the fur bends due to gravity. A value of 0 results in fur that is completely rigid with no effect by gravity while higher values make the fur more flexible and droop farther due to gravity. Extremely high Bend values can stretch out fur in an unrealistic manner.

Since bend is based on gravity the fur bends differently based on its angle on the surface and the gravity direction.

Bend requires some segments but is less demanding than Curl.

Curl

Controls the amount of coiling around the strand axis. Positive values curl the fur clockwise while negative values curl the fur counter-clockwise, the farther the value is from 0 the more curly the fur.

Curls requires many segments to render properly, too low of a value may result in fur that doesn't look curly at all.

Gravity

Controls the intensity of gravity which in turn controls how much the fur bends when the Bend value is greater than 0. Most of the time you can just leave it at the default 9.81 for realistic results, lower values bend the fur less.

Density Variation

Varies the density of fur across the surface in patches. Higher values result in increased contrast between the patches of fur, a value of 0 results in uniformly dense fur.

Density Variation Scale

Controls the size of the fur patches used for density variation in scene units.

Length Variation

Varies the length per-strand. Higher values vary the length of each strand by making them shorter or longer than the base length. A value of 0 results in all strands having the same length.

Thickness Variation

Varies the thickness per-strand. Higher values vary the thickness of each strand by making them thinner or thicker than the base thickness. A value of 0 results in all strands having the same thickness.

Direction Variation

Varies the how far each strand grows away from the growth direction. Higher values result in fur that grows in more random directions while a value of 0 results in fur that only grows out directly in line with the growth direction.

Bend Variation

Randomizes the bend amount per-strand. Higher values produce more bend variation across the fur while a value of 0 results in each strand having the same bend amount.

Curl Variation

Randomizes the curl amount per-strand. Higher values produce more curl variation across the fur while a value of 0 results in each strand having the same curl amount.

Enable LOD

When enabled, the density of the fur is optimized based on distance from the camera.

• Density is reduced in distant fur to lower the total number of strands generated
• Thickness is increased in distant fur to maintain the same visual density

This level of detail (LOD) effect can be balanced for visual impact while reducing the total number of strands generated and optimizing render time.

When disabled, all strands render at full detail.

Enable LOD: Disabled (default)	Enabled

Start Distance

Sets the distance in scene units from the camera where the LOD effects begin. Fur closer than the distance is rendered at full quality while fur beyond this distance is rendered at reduced quality.

Set the distance to something that works well for your scene scale.

In the example below, note how the fur closest to the camera always renders at full quality when the Start Distance is adjusted.

Distant Quality

Controls how the fur beyond the Start Distance is rendered. Higher values increase the density of the distant fur while lower values decrease the density by culling more of the fur strands.

Values that are too low will reveal bald patches in the fur.

In the example below, note how the fur beyond a certain distance (the Start Distance) changes in density and thickness as the Distant Quality is adjusted.

Surface Offset Map

Multiplies the surface offset using a grayscale texture map. Useful for matching objects that require displacement.

Surface Offset Map: Linear Gradient

Density Map

Multiplies the density using a grayscale texture map, this can be used to vary the density based on a texture. Black completely masks away fur, grey areas reduce the density, and white results in full density.

Density Map: Linear Gradient

Length Map

Multiplies the length using a grayscale texture map. Black completely masks away fur by giving it a strand length of 0, grey areas reduce the length, and white results in full strand length.

Length Map: Linear Gradient

Thickness Map

Multiplies the thickness using a grayscale texture map. Black completely masks away fur by giving it a strand thickness of 0, grey areas reduce the thickness, and white results in full strand thickness.

Thickness Map: Linear Gradient

Comb Direction Map

Overrides the initial growth direction for each strand using a color texture. By default a strand grows out along the surface normal but this map overrides that by setting the growth direction explicitly.

Each color channel of the texture controls a different aspect of the growth direction, exactly like a normal map. A color value of (0.5, 0.5, 1) results in the default direction straight out along the surface normal.

• The Red channel controls the direction along the mesh's U-tangent direction.
  • 0 = fully negative, 0.5 = neutral, 1 = fully positive
• The Green channel controls the direction along the mesh's V-bitangent direction.
  • 0 = fully negative, 0.5 = neutral, 1 = fully positive
• The Blue channel controls the direction along the mesh's surface normal in a binary way.
  • 0 = strand grows along the surface (laying down)
  • 1 = strand grows straight out of the surface

Comb Direction Map: Multi-Angle (along normals)	Multi-Angle (along surface)

Bend Map

Controls how much strands bend along the Bend Direction Map using a grayscale texture map to control . Black removes the bend direction effect entirely, grey areas reduce the bend direction, and white results in full bend strength.

In the examples below, note how in the areas where the Bend Map is black the Bend Direction has no effect and the strands are only affected by the normal bend due to gravity. In the areas where the Bend Map is lighter the Bend Direction can take effect.

Bend Map: Linear Gradient	Linear Gradient

Bend Direction Map

Overrides the direction each strand bends using a color texture. By default a strand bends along the surface normal but this map overrides that by setting the bend direction explicitly.

Each color channel of the texture controls a different aspect of the growth direction, exactly like a normal map. A color value of (0.5, 0.5, 1) results in the default direction straight out along the surface normal.

• The Red channel controls the direction along the mesh's U-tangent direction.
  • 0 = fully negative, 0.5 = neutral, 1 = fully positive
• The Green channel controls the direction along the mesh's V-bitangent direction.
  • 0 = fully negative, 0.5 = neutral, 1 = fully positive
• The Blue channel controls the direction along the mesh's surface normal in a binary way.
  • 0 = strand grows along the surface (laying down)
  • 1 = strand grows straight out of the surface

Bend Direction Map: Multi-Angle	Split angle

Curl Map

Multiplies the curl amount using a grayscale texture map. Black removes the curl effect entirely, grey areas reduces the curl, and white results in full curl strength.

Curl Map: Linear Gradient

Gravity Map

Multiplies the gravity strength using a grayscale texture map. Black removes the gravity effect entirely, grey areas reduces gravity, and white results in full gravity strength.

Gravity Map: Linear Gradient