A contour line is when you have a 2-dimensional function and you draw a line or curve through the 2-D space following a path where the function has a constant value.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contour_line

In my case, I was talking about lines of constant U or lines of constant V (UV coordinates) mapped onto the geometry of our models.

For the Anisotropic node to work properly, the fine microscopic lines we are hoping to simulate must line up with a U contour or a V contour. If not, it will not work.

 

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Renderosity forum reply notifications are wonky. If I read a follow-up in a thread, but I don't myself reply, then notifications no longer happen AT ALL on that thread. So if I seem to be ignoring a question, that's why. (Updated September 23, 2019)