---
title: "Patterns & Noises"
canonical: "https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/RU/623607817/Patterns%20%26%20Noises"
format: markdown
---
![RenderMan_Patterns.jpg](media://8ece2ab0-9a83-45f8-bacf-745516096a22)

While Materials control the appearance of an object, patterns control the detail by varying the parameters of the material's Bxdf across a surface. 

This is similar to how texture artists use textures to control the appearance of a material. 

RenderMan ships with a set of patterns that allow texturing, color correction, bumping, and various utility shading systems.

The patterns can be divided into the following categories:

> ℹ️ <span style="color: #ffffff">**Procedural Textures**</span>

Procedurally create noise and patterns.

- <u>[PxrChecker](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542222962)</u>
- <u>[PxrCurvature](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223097)</u>
- <u>[PxrFractal](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223600)</u>
- <u>[PxrVoronoise](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542225517)</u>
- <u>[PxrWorley](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542225558)</u>
- <u>[PxrPhasorNoise](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542224343)</u>


> ℹ️ <span style="color: #ffffff">**Color Nodes**</span>

Create or modify colors in the shading network.

- <u>[PxrBlackBody](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542222617)</u>
- <u>[PxrBlend](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542222644)</u>
- <u>[PxrClamp](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223021)</u>
- <u>[PxrColorCorrect](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223036)</u>
- <u>[PxrColorSpace](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223066)</u>
- <u>[PxrExposure](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223444)</u>
- <u>[PxrGamma](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223657)</u>
- <u>[PxrHairColor](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223700)</u>
- <u>[PxrHSL](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542224012)</u>
- <u>[PxrInvert](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542224027)</u>
- <u>[PxrLayeredBlend](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542224038)</u>
- <u>[PxrMix](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542224229)</u>
- <u>[PxrProjectionStack](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542224392)</u>
- <u>[PxrRamp](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542224458)</u>
- <u>[PxrRemap](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542224612)</u>
- <u>[PxrThinFilm](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542225088)</u>
- <u>[PxrThreshold](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542225099)</u>
- <u>[PxrVary](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542225490)</u>

> ℹ️ <span style="color: #ffffff">**Geometry Nodes**</span>

You can use these nodes to calculate geometric properties and vectors.

- <u>[PxrDirt](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223198)</u>
- <u>[PxrDispScalarLayer](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223338)</u>
- <u>[PxrDispTransform](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223359)</u>
- <u>[PxrDispVectorLayer](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223392)</u>
- <u>[PxrDot](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223417)</u>
- <u>[PxrCross](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223082)</u>
- <u>[PxrFacingRatio](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542223459)</u>
- <u>[PxrTangentField](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542224996)</u>


> ℹ️ <span style="color: #ffffff">**Scripting Nodes**</span>

- <u>[OSL Patterns](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542222454)</u>

> ℹ️ <span style="color: #ffffff">**Utility Nodes **</span>

- <u>[PxrAttribute](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542222552)</u>
- <u>[PxrMatteID](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542224176)</u>
- <u>[PxrPrimvar](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542224365)</u>
- <u>[PxrVariable](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542225473)</u>
- <u>[PxrToFloat](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542225447)</u>
- <u>[PxrToFloat3](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542225462)</u>
- <u>[PxrTee](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542225035)</u>
- <u>[PxrShadedSide](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542224902)</u>


> ℹ️ <span style="color: #ffffff">**Texture Baking Nodes**</span>

These passthrough patterns are designed to allows users to bake arbitrary pattern networks.

- <u>[PxrBakeTexture](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542222597)</u>
- <u>[PxrBakePointCloud](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542222579)</u>


### Guidance for Writing Your Own Patterns

You do not need to be limited to the patterns that RenderMan provides.  If you follow the guidance in <u>[OSL Patterns](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/542222454)</u> you can build your own patterns.  XPU only runs OSL patterns, while RIS runs both C++ and OSL patterns.