Effects Tab

Effects Tab

Like the MaterialsLights and Rendering tabs, the effects tab is divided into two panes for archives and palette. This tab is where you set up different background and foreground effects.

To set up an effect for the render, you simply drag a style from the archive to the palette. You can only have one of each type of effect at once in the palette: that is, one background and one foreground style.

Background Effects

Background Effects

Background effects affect the background of the image when rendered and include plain colors, graduated colors, procedural clouds and image files (tiled or scaled).

To set up a background for your render, simply drag your chosen background onto the palette on the right hand side of the tab. Most backgrounds can be rendered interactively in OpenGL so you have a good preview of how the background will be fully rendered.

To edit your chosen background effect, simply double click on the effect in the palette. The Background Editor dialog will appear. Each editor will be different for each type of background. The Scaled Image editor is shown here:

In the Background Editor , click on the Browse button (...) next to the File Name box to display the Open Image File dialog. From here, browse to an image file and click Open to use that image as the background.

Editing parameters in the dialog will interactively alter the scene with those changes.

At any time, click on the Apply button to apply the parameter edits to the scene.

You can save an edited background for use in other scenes by simply dragging it onto the User, Backgrounds archive.

Click OK to keep the changes made or Cancel to discard any changes made (since the last time you clicked Apply at least).

Envrironment Backgrounds

Environment backgrounds are a special kind of background that move with the model and allow reflections from reflective model parts. There are a number of different types of environment image types; we recommend using Vertical Cross maps. These images are automatically placed on the inside of a cube that then surrounds the scene. Due to the nature of the feature, edges and corners become indistinguishable. A wide variety of environment maps are available for purchase on the internet.

The additional realism accessible through Environment backgrounds is possible through two drag and drops.

1. Load a model into JetStream and set the view to be outside so that the external scene is visible.

2. Open the Presenter window and select the Effects tab.

3. In the left-hand window, open the Recommended folder, open the Environments sub-folder and then open the Panorama sub-folder. In here will be two environments, City and Sky. Drag Sky from the left over to the palette on the right.

4. Back in the Recommended folder, open the Backgrounds sub-folder, and drag the Environment over to the palette on the right. Because this type of background is made up of two parts, the Sky image and the background Environment shader that points at the image, these two elements will link together automatically.

Once this is complete, moving around the model will see the background moving appropriately in real-time. With a modern graphics card, if there are reflective surfaces in the scene, opening Tools, Global Options, Presenter and setting Hardware to Lighting will show the newly set up background reflected in all such surfaces.

Pressing the Render button will also show this background in the photorealistic output.

Foreground Effects

Foreground Effects

Foreground effects affect the foreground of the image when rendered and include fog and snow effect. None of these effects are available as an interactive preview and can only be seen when a full render is done.

To set up a foreground for your render, simply drag your chosen foreground onto the palette on the right hand side of the tab.

To edit your chosen foreground effect, simply double click on the effect in the palette. The Foreground Editor dialog will appear. Each editor will be different for each foreground type. The Heavy Fog editor is shown here:

At any time, click on the Apply button to apply the parameter edits to the scene.

You can save an edited foreground for use in other scenes by simply dragging it onto the User, Foreground archive.

Click OK to keep the changes made or Cancel to discard any changes made (since the last time you clicked Apply at least).