Lederender

Lederender is a term in computer graphics describing a shading approach and material model used to reproduce leather surfaces in rendered imagery. It encompasses both the material model and a set of texture and shading techniques that simulate how light interacts with leather’s anisotropic fibers, pores, and irregular surface features.

Etymology: The name combines the German word for leather (leder) and the English render, reflecting its focus on leather-like materials.

Technical description: Lederender typically fits within a physically based rendering (PBR) workflow. It often uses an anisotropic specular component to reproduce directional sheen from leather fibers, along with a diffusion component for the base color. A layered approach is common, with a base dye or hide color, a grain or pattern texture, and a top coat or patina layer. Maps controlling anisotropy direction, roughness, pore size, and stitch lines are common, as are subsurface scattering approximations for thin leather sections. Some implementations employ two or more layers to simulate wear, scratches, and moisture.

Applications: Lederender is used in product visualization, automotive interiors, fashion rendering, and video games where realistic leather surfaces are important.

History and variants: The concept emerged in the 2010s within broader PBR shader development and has since spawned multiple variants, including two-layer and multi-layer leather shaders and procedural grain generation.

Limitations: Achieving convincing results requires high-quality texture maps and careful tuning; real-time performance can be demanding, and very worn or dyed leathers may require additional maps such as edge wear and dye bleed.

See also: physically based rendering, BRDF, anisotropic reflection, leather texture.