Properties
PotterDraw supports a list of properties which can be used to enhance the pot's appearance beyond its basic shape, which is determined by its spline. Properties can also be modulated by oscillators for more complex effects. The properties are explained in detail in the topics below, and summarized here. They're grouped into the following categories:
| Group | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Mesh | Alterations to the pot's 3D mesh. |
| Texture | Alterations to the pot's 2D texture. |
| View | View-related properties; also see Render Styles. |
The properties bar displays the property values for the active document, and lets you edit them. To show the properties bar, use View/Toolbars and Docking Windows/Properties. To edit a property, left-click its value. You can also navigate the list using the Up and Down arrows, and edit the selected property by pressing the Tab key. Most properties are either numeric values or lists. The editing features of the different property types are explained below.
| Type | Usage |
|---|---|
| Numeric | Left-click the value to display an edit box; then type a new value, or edit the existing value, and press Enter or Tab to save your change. Left-clicking anywhere outside of the value also saves your change. To cancel your change, press Esc. |
| List | Left-click the value to display a button on the right featuring a downward-pointing arrow; then left-click the button to drop the list, and left-click the desired list item. If you left-click in the area where the button would appear, the list is displayed immediately, skipping a step. While the value has focus, you can also change it via the mouse wheel or the Up and Down arrow keys. |
| Path | Left-click the value to display a button on the right featuring an ellipses; then left-click the button to display a file dialog. In the file dialog, navigate to the desired file, and press OK to select it. If you left-click in the area where the button would appear, the file dialog is displayed immediately, skipping a step. You can also type a path in the edit box. |
| Color | Left-click the value to display a button on the right featuring a downward-pointing arrow; then left-click the button to display a palette, and left-click the desired color swatch, or "More Colors" to display a color picker dialog. If you left-click in the area where the button would appear, the palette is displayed immediately, skipping a step. You can also type a hexadecimal color value in the edit box. |
Selecting a property sets the modulation target to the selected property. In other words, when you select a property, the modulation bar is automatically updated to display the modulation values for that property.