Texturing & materials · Beginner
Decal
An image placed on top of a surface like a sticker, for one-off details
What is a decal in 3D?
A decal is an image projected or stuck onto a 3D surface on top of its existing material, like a sticker. Decals add one-off details such as logos, signs, cracks, stains and bullet holes without repainting the whole texture, and they can be moved or removed freely.
Think of it like this
It is like a temporary tattoo: it adds a picture right where you place it, and it comes off without changing the skin underneath.
Where it fits in a 3D project
- Create
- Surface
- Rig
- Animate
- Render
- Export
Surface: Giving the shape its color and material: UVs, textures and shaders.
How a decal works
- 01Pick an image, often one with a transparent background.
- 02Place a decal object or projector over the spot on the surface.
- 03The engine projects the image onto whatever geometry sits inside it.
- 04It blends with the material below and can carry its own normal and roughness.
Decal vs texture
| Property | Decal | Texture |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | One spot | The whole surface |
| Placed | Freely, in the scene | Through the model’s UVs |
| Reuse | Same decal on many objects | Usually one per model |
| Changing it | Move or delete anytime | Repaint the image |
Paint what belongs on every copy of a model into its texture; use decals for details that change from scene to scene.
Where a decal is used
- Graffiti, puddles, cracks and dirt in game levels
- Logos and labels on product and vehicle models
- Breaking up repeating tiled textures
Beginner tip
Give decals normal and roughness maps as well as color. A crack or scratch that changes shine and bumpiness reads as part of the surface, where a color-only decal looks like a flat print.
Terms related to a decal
- Texturing & materialsTextureAn image wrapped onto a 3D surface to give it color and detail
- Texturing & materialsOpacity mapA grayscale texture that sets how see-through each part of a surface is
- Texturing & materialsTrim sheetA texture of reusable detail strips shared across many models
- Texturing & materialsTexture paintingBrushing color and detail straight onto a 3D model
- Texturing & materialsMaterialThe settings that decide what a 3D surface is made of
- Texturing & materialsUV mappingFlattening a 3D surface into 2D so a texture knows where to go
Decal FAQ
Updated October 29, 2026 · Browse all 3D terms