No, although you could. There are some complicated rules when transparency is involved.

But - assuming the following:

No transparency, Reflect_Lite_Mult is off, Reflect_Kd_Mult is off.

Then all of the following do exactly the same thing - draw whatever it is you plugged into them.

Ambient_Color

Reflection_Color

Refraction_Color

Alternate_Diffuse

Alternate_Specular

 

Of the five, the first three have a corresponding XYZ_Value. The color is multiplied with the value to arrive at the final color.

All five of those inputs are added together - they are internally connected via Color_Math:Add.

Of the five, the one with the fewest oddities and exceptions triggered by those three things I mentioned is Alternate_Diffuse. That channel is as straightforward as can be. It is the equivalent of "Poser - draw this and shut up". Ambient_Color is similarly simple, but you have to also set Ambient_Value and why set two things when you can set one.

Which explains why I use Alternate_Diffuse like 99.9999999% of the time.

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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)